How State House gobbled Sh11.6 billion in nine months

State House spent Sh11.6 billion in the first nine months of the 2025/26 financial year, according to the latest National Government Budget Implementation Review Report released by the Controller of Budget.

According to Controller of Budget Dr Margaret Nyakang'o, the budgetary allocation to State House in the 2025/26 financial year amounted to Sh8.58 billion, compared to Sh12.07 billion allocated in the 2024/25 financial year.

The report showed that the Coordination of State House Functions consumed Sh11.3 billion, while the Administration of Statutory Benefits for Retired Presidents and Deputy Presidents cost Sh283.8 million. Analysis of the programmes and sub-programmes showed that the former recorded the highest absorption rate at 140 per cent.

"Analysis of programmes and sub-programmes shows that the Coordination of State House Functions sub-programme under the State House Affairs Programme recorded the highest absorption rate at 140 per cent, while the Administration of Statutory Benefits for Retired Presidents and Deputy Presidents sub-programme recorded the lowest absorption rate at 63 per cent," said Dr Nyakang'o.

The programme recorded an absorption rate of 136 per cent, which was above the 75 per cent budget utilisation target for the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year. The over-expenditure on the Coordination of State House Functions sub-programme was attributed to additional funding of Sh4.45 billion under Article 223 of the Constitution for other operating expenses.

Refurbishment of buildings at State House, Nairobi, which began on July 1, 2015, has already consumed Sh1.6 billion, while refurbishment works at State Lodge Eldoret, which began on July 1, 2016, and are expected to end on June 30, 2027, have so far cost Sh107.17 million.

Refurbishment of the fence and main house at State House Mombasa, which began on July 1, 2016, has already consumed Sh459.43 million, while refurbishment of buildings at State Lodge Kisumu, which began on July 1, 2015, has cost Sh59.25 million.

"Refurbishment of buildings at State Lodge Sagana, which began on July 1, 2016, has already cost Sh121.85 million, while refurbishment of buildings at State Lodge Kakamega, which began on July 1, 2015, has cost Sh77.77 million so far. Refurbishment of State Lodge Kisii has also consumed Sh10 million," said Dr Nyakang'o.

Analysis of the State House project implementation revealed varying levels of completion. The lowest completion rate was recorded at State Lodge Kisii, where refurbishment works that commenced in July 2019 were only three per cent complete. The Mechanical Garage project, initiated in July 2020, stood at four per cent completion.

The Controller of Budget said the slow progress in implementing these projects was likely due to the complex nature of the works, with payments expected to be made upon the issuance of completion certificates.

Dr Nyakang'o further revealed that the budgetary allocation to the Executive Office of the President in the 2025/26 financial year amounted to Sh5.57 billion, compared to Sh4.62 billion allocated in the 2024/25 financial year. General Administration, Planning and Support Services consumed Sh2.4 billion during the first nine months.

"In the Executive Office of the President, Government Printing Services used Sh826.51 million, while Leadership and Coordination Services consumed Sh710.38 million. Counter-Terrorism Services used Sh520.71 million, Public Oversight Entities consumed Sh399 million, Power of Mercy Advisory Services used Sh25 million, while Strategic Policy Advisory Services used Sh3.6 million," said Dr Nyakang'o.

The Controller of Budget said the National Fund  for the Disabled of Kenya has spent Sh2.8 billion since July 2016. The Modernisation of Press and Refurbishment of Buildings at the Government Printer project, which began in July 2013, and the General Works Refurbishment of Harambee House project, which started in July 2015, have so far consumed Sh121.7 million.

The Kenya–European Union Partnership on the National Strategy to Counter Terrorism, which began in February, has so far spent Sh301.4 million, while the Directorate of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing has spent Sh246.7 million since its establishment in July 2019.