The Controller of Budget, Margaret Nyakang’o, has warned that the Sh7.82 billion State House projects across the country are behind schedule and will cost Kenyans more in contract price variations as well as penalties.
Dr Nyakang’o, in her National Government Budget Implementation Review Report of November 2025 for the 2025/26 financial year, decried lack of strategic planning by those in charge of implementing the projects as the cause for delayed works.
The CoB report before parliament reveals that by September 30, 2025, Sh2.1 billion had already been sunk in the projects that averaged a 22.6 per cent completion rate during their reporting time, with less than 18 months to go. The projects, some of which started on July 1, 2015, are fully financed by the taxpayers and will have June 30, 2027, as their expected completion date.
But Dr Nyakang’o notes that their implementation status report “revealed different levels of completion rates with the lowest recording one per cent” and the highest at 47 per cent, more than 10 years since the works started.
“The delays highlight the critical need for strategic planning and prioritisation to ensure timely project completion,” the Controller of Budget said, noting that “the refurbishment of buildings at Kakamega State Lodge, which started in 2015, is merely 20 per cent complete.”
Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o.
Photo credit: Francis Nderitu | Nation Media Group
The State House’s key role is to support the President in achieving his constitutional responsibilities. For instance, the refurbishment of buildings at the Nairobi State House started on July 1, 2015, at Sh1.8 billion, fully funded by the taxpayer, with the expected date of completion set for June 30, 2027.
However, the CoB report notes that the cumulative funding as of September 30, 2025, was Sh775.7 million, with the project at a 44 per cent completion rate.
The Sh422 million purchase of specialised plant, equipment, and machinery for State House started on July 1, 2015, with the expected completion date set for June 30, 2027. But with Sh199 million in cumulative funding as of September 30, 2025, the project was at a 47 per cent completion.
Journalists during a past function at State Lodge Eldoret.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
The Sh926.6 million refurbishment of buildings at the Eldoret State Lodge started on July 1, 2016, with June 30, 2027, as the completion date.
So far, the project has consumed Sh47.1 million and is at a five per cent completion rate.
Renovation of buildings at Sagana State Lodge started on July 1, 2016, at Sh388.8 million, with the completion date set for June 30, 2027.
But as of September 30, 2025, the project had consumed Sh106.9 million and was at a 27 per cent completion rate.
The Sh1.4 billion refurbishments of the fence and main House at Mombasa State House, which started on July 1, 2016, are at a 30 percent completion rate.
The expected completion date is June 30, 2027, and by September 30, 2025, it had consumed Sh418.2 million.
The Sh1.2 billion refurbishment of buildings at Nakuru State House is another project that has been delayed.
The project started on July 1, 2015, with June 30, 2027, set as the completion date.
As of September 30, 2025, Sh424.4 million had been sunk into the project, which has recorded a 36 percent completion rate.
The Sh795.8 million refurbishment of Kisii State Lodge started on July 1, 2019, with June 30, 2027, as the expected completion date.
But as of September 30, 2025, the project was at one percent completion rate and had not recorded any funding from the government during the first three months of the 2025/26 financial year.
There is also the Sh428.6 million mechanical garage, which started on July 1, 2020, with June 30, 2027 set as the completion date, but had absorbed Sh15.96 million, attracting a two percent completion rate.
The others include the Sh265.3 million refurbishment of buildings at Kakamega State Lodge that started on July 1, 2015, and is due on June 30, 2027, with Sh52.93 million already spent by September 30, 2025, recording a 20 percent completion rate.
The refurbishment of buildings at Kisumu State Lodge was awarded at Sh245.14 million, with July 1, 2015, as the starting date.
But with Sh35.31 million having been spent as of September 30, 2025, the project was at a 14 percent completion rate.
