State House yesterday defended the ongoing renovations, saying they are within the structural designs.

It also clarified that the revamp was financed by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the Department of Defence.

State House Comptroller Katoo ole Metito told MPs that the finances did not come from the current budget as development expenditure in the 2024/2025 financial year was slashed by 54 per cent.

Appearing before the departmental committee on Administration and Internal Security, chaired by Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo, Katoo said Nairobi State House had not been renovated for 117 years.

Metito further clarified that the national heritage has not been lost as claimed by various stakeholders.

He explained that the renovations have only beautified the state house owing to the fact that it is the one that hosts visiting heads of state.

He said: “The ongoing renovations at State house are ok, people are just seeing from a far. We have not lost any structural designs. The roof is the way it was, e in fact it is more beautiful. The renovations are not yet complete.”

The move comes a month after Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) raised concerns over the renovations on account that they compromised the building’s architectural designs, historical and cultural significance.

AAK noted that the works undertaken at State House had dented its historical significance.

State House, before the renovations, had the original neo-classical design by British architect Sir Herbert Baker in 1907.

Undertaken by a Chinese contractor, the renovations are part of efforts to modernise the structure.

The works commenced in December 2023 and are set to be completed in the next few months.

Metito requested for an additional Sh3.3 billion renovation of other state lodges.

He cited the state lodge in Mombasa saying it has been declared inhabitable.

He said that although he had requested for Sh15 billion for the next financial year, they had only been allocated Sh7.5 billion out of which Sh6.8 billion will be used to cater for recurrent expenditure such as salaries and personal emoluments while only Sh 715.4 million is for development expenditure.

Committee members however raised concerns as to why State House was undertaking such renovations at a time when Kenyans are struggling to make ends meet.

Kisumu West MP Rozah Buyu said this was not the time for such beautification.