President William Ruto will not access the iconic Statehouse constructed 117 years ago to pave the way for a planned facelift and renovations. The renovation follows a warning from architects who told the President that the building was too old and might collapse.
Architects had warned that parts of the expansive colonial structure had become unfit for habitation and recommended the construction of a new Statehouse.
The President rejected the idea of constructing a new statehouse directing that only renovations be done given that building a new presidential residence would cost upward of 2 billion shillings.
At the same time, a new presidential pavilion that can host between 1,000 and 1,500 people has been constructed. The pavilion has offices where the president can host smaller meetings with visiting dignitaries.
Part of the current renovations began immediately after Christmas and targeted the firming up of walls, pillars, and sections of the roof. This will not affect the structure or form of the building.
The move has made President Ruto move between State Houses and State Lodges across the country.
When Kenya became a republic, State House was Mzee Jomo Kenyatta’s operation base although he commuted daily to his home in Gatundu, Kiambu county, until 1978 when he died his successor, Daniel Arap Moi moved in.
Built in 1907, and sitting on over 700 acres of land, this was first the official residence of the governor of British East Africa when Kenya was a colony within the British Empire as the Government House.
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