An official residence of Nairobi’s Governor is set to begin in Nairobi’s Kilimani estate. The residence is set to cost Kshs 290 million and compensation of the twelve families currently residing on the land is underway.
Requirement By Law
Acting County Secretary, Geoffrey Akumali, informed the County Assembly Justice and Legal Affairs Committee that the county is behind schedule in fulfilling the legal requirements for establishing an official governor’s residence.
He insisted that the official residence is the first mandate introduced during devolution by the Transition Authority.
Avoid Audit Issues
Committee Chairman Jared Akama stressed that constructing the residence is not only a legal requirement but also necessary to avoid audit issues.
The Treasury reported monthly rent expenses of Kshs 5 million for governors, Kes.4.51 million for deputy governors, and Kes.3.75 million for speakers in 2019. These costs are a noose on taxpayers’ necks, who also foot transport and entertainment allowances.
Compensation is Underway
Each family will receive Kes.50,000 as part of the compensation to initiate the construction on the site. According to the county government, a contractor is expected to start work by the end of this month. So far, Kes.60 million has been disbursed for the project, which is slated for completion by April 2025
Initially, the county allocated Kes.500 million for the residence, but this was later reduced to Kes.290 million after Governor Sakaja declined the offer for an official residence, citing other funding priorities.
