NAIROBI, Kenya — State House has requested Parliament to allocate Sh 20 billion to fund its operations across State Lodges nationwide for the 2026/27 Financial Year.
Appearing before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security, State House Comptroller Katoo Ole Metito said Treasury allocated Sh 13 billion, leaving a shortfall of Sh 7 billion.
In the last financial year, State House was allocated Sh 17 billion, marking a Sh 4 billion shortfall compared to its request.
The proposed Sh 13 billion for the coming year represents a further reduction.
Renovation Plans Defended
Katoo defended renovation costs at the State House in Nairobi, saying changes were required at the seat of power. He revealed plans to renovate State Lodges every financial year, with Mombasa and Eldoret targeted in the current financial year.
Plans are also underway to renovate and expand lodges in Kisumu and Nakuru.
Katoo disclosed that the State House has re-acquired a 100-acre piece of land that was initially grabbed to build a State Lodge in Kakamega.
The budget request comes amid sustained public scrutiny of recurrent expenditure at the presidency, with critics arguing that allocations for State House operations and lodge renovations divert resources from development priorities in a constrained fiscal environment.
