Sakaja’s New Ksh235 Million House Sparks Debate Among Nairobi Residents
The Nairobi County Government has set aside Ksh235 million in its 2025/2026 Annual Development Plan to build a new official residence for Governor Johnson Sakaja in Kilimani.
According to details from the plan, which outlines how the county will allocate and use public resources as per Section 104 of the County Government Act (CGA) 2012, the new house will be constructed in Lady Northey, Kilimani Ward.
The project includes a main residential building for the governor, separate servants’ quarters, a perimeter wall for security, a modern gate, and a fully landscaped compound.
This project will be undertaken in a single phase and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of the financial year.
The awarding of the contract and the issuance of a completion certificate have been listed as the main indicators of the project’s success.
The entire amount will be funded directly from the Nairobi City County Government (NCCG) budget.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time such a plan has appeared in Nairobi’s budget. Back in 2022, there were discussions about spending Ksh500 million on constructing official residences for both the governor and the deputy governor.
However, Governor Sakaja rejected the plan and publicly instructed the county’s Members of County Assembly (MCAs) to redirect that money to projects with a more immediate impact, such as building new markets and creating employment opportunities for the youth.
“I came across a budget proposing Ksh500 million for constructing residences for the governor and deputy governor.
I instructed the MCAs to redirect the funds to development projects that would help the community, especially the youth,” Sakaja said during a public address in October 2022.
At the time, there were also proposals to renovate the existing official house in Lavington instead of building a new one.
However, the idea faced legal challenges and eventually stalled. In 2024, the allocated budget was scaled down to Ksh290 million and was later approved.
Now, the latest budget for 2025/2026 reveals that the figure has been reduced further to Ksh235 million.
In addition to the governor’s residence, the county has also allocated Ksh100 million for the renovation of City Hall.
The planned works include tiling, painting, rebranding, replacing old doors, and fixing plumbing and electrical systems. The goal is to modernize the county’s administrative center and improve its functionality.
Further budget allocations include Ksh20 million to reroof the audit wing on the fifth floor of City Hall, Ksh25 million to replace outdated aluminium gutters, and Ksh50 million to construct a new off-site archives storage facility.
These upgrades are part of a broader effort by the county to enhance service delivery and streamline administrative operations.
However, not everyone supports the decision to invest such large amounts in housing and renovations.
Some Nairobi residents believe the funds would be better spent on addressing urgent community needs such as improving healthcare, upgrading informal settlements, and supporting youth empowerment initiatives.
They argue that while official residences and administrative upgrades are important, they should not take precedence over essential public services.
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