Alarm as MPs Raise Concerns Over Leaking Roof at Nakuru State House

Serious concerns have been raised about the state of Nakuru State House after Members of Parliament discovered worrying flaws in its facilities, including a leaking roof.

The issue came to light during a recent inspection by the Administration and Internal Security Committee of Parliament. Lawmakers flagged the residence for being in poor condition, with both security lapses and structural weaknesses identified.

Committee Chair Gabriel Tongoyo explained that the team had visited the State House to review the progress of ongoing renovations and assess whether the refurbishment projects were nearing completion.

However, what they found left many questions about the readiness of the facility and whether it meets the required standards expected of a presidential residence.

During the inspection, State House Hospitality Manager Julius Kiptoo gave a detailed briefing that revealed further challenges. He noted that the facility faces not only technical and structural problems but also suffers from inadequate security systems.

He further explained that budgetary constraints continue to slow down the pace of refurbishment. According to him, the most urgent problem is the leaking roof, which he described as a critical concern that must be fixed immediately.

Kiptoo, who has also worked at State House Mombasa, said his experience helped him identify key gaps that could compromise the functionality of the Nakuru residence. The committee’s visit was part of a larger oversight mission to ensure that all presidential residences across the country are maintained to the highest operational standards.

Following their inspection, the committee is expected to present formal recommendations in Parliament. These recommendations may influence the inclusion of additional funding for Nakuru State House in the supplementary budget.

Interestingly, Nakuru State House has already received over Ksh240 million between 2021 and 2023 for various upgrade allocations. Despite this, the government insists that more money is needed to fully complete the refurbishment works.

One of the major events planned for Nakuru State House this year was the hosting of the winners of the Kenya National Drama and Film Festival 2025.

However, with the current state of the residence, doubts remain over its preparedness to hold such prestigious functions.

Adding to the concerns, President William Ruto has made very few visits to Nakuru State House in 2025. For example, a scheduled meeting with Nakuru leaders in May was held at the Nairobi State House instead of the Nakuru facility.

The revelation about the deteriorating condition of the residence comes only months after the government significantly increased the State House budget.

In the Supplementary Estimates Budget II for the 2024/25 financial year, the allocation for State House was raised by Ksh3.81 billion.

The Treasury explained that the rise—an 88.4 percent increase—was necessary to cover operational and maintenance expenses, including medical insurance for staff. Additionally, more funds were allocated to the Executive Office of the President.

Meanwhile, President Ruto has faced public criticism following reports that he intends to build a Ksh1.2 billion church inside State House.

The alleged plan has sparked heated debate, with critics questioning government spending priorities at a time when existing State House facilities are struggling with basic issues like leaking roofs.

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