Twelve families residing on land designated for the construction of a Sh290 million official residence for the Nairobi Governor will each receive Ksh 500,000 to facilitate their relocation. The land, located in Nairobi’s Kilimani estate, is set for development, and the compensation plan is crucial for moving forward with the construction, according to Acting County Secretary Geoffrey Akumali.
During a session with the County Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, Akumali emphasized the urgency of the project, noting that the county is behind schedule in meeting the legal requirements for an official governor’s residence, a necessity established during devolution under the Transition Authority.
“We are actually behind schedule because this is something that should have been done long ago,” he stated, underscoring the need to advance the project. The county government plans to have the contractor commence work by the end of this month. Initially, Ksh 500 million was allocated for the residence, but this figure was revised to Ksh 290 million after the governor opted against having an official residence. So far, Ksh 60 million has been allocated for construction, which is expected to be completed by April 2025.
Committee Chairman Jared Akama highlighted the importance of establishing the residence to avoid potential audit issues. “This is a requirement of the law, and indeed Nairobi is behind schedule. For now, it is crucial to clear the audit queries,” he said. In early 2022, the Nairobi County government had proposed spending Ksh 500 million on the official residences for the governor and deputy governor, marking the first such purchase since devolution. A report from the Treasury in 2019 indicated that the government was spending Ksh 5 million monthly on rent for governors, further burdening taxpayers who also support other perks like transport and entertainment allowances.
The County Annual Development Plan for 2022-2023 proposed a Ksh 500 million budget for purchasing residences for the governor and deputy governor, though the plan lacked specific details about location and specifications. Notably, this amount exceeds the Senate’s cap of Ksh 45 million for a governor’s residence.
In October 2022, Governor Sakaja publicly rejected any allocation for an official residence, prioritizing funds for public projects instead. He insisted that the budgeted Sh500 million should be redirected to building markets and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in Nairobi.
“I already have a place where I live; why do I need Ksh 500 million for another residence? Let’s work for our people,” Sakaja stated, emphasizing his commitment to addressing the needs of Nairobi’s citizens.
