Kenya’s government is spending billions of shillings on renovations in state offices and foreign missions. Yet, many projects are dragging on for years with very little progress. The 2024-25 Controller of Budget report reveals the scale of the problem.
At State House Nairobi, refurbishments have cost Sh1.18 billion since July 2015. Sh400 million was spent in just the 2024-25 financial year. Harambee House renovations, which began in 2015, have cost Sh118 million but are only 35 percent complete.
The Government Press project is even slower. Modernisation started in 2013 with a budget of Sh981.7 million. After more than a decade, only 8 percent of the work is done. The project is now expected to finish in 2028. “Minimal progress has been recorded despite the project starting in 2013 with a three-year target,” noted Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakango.
Delays Extend to Foreign Missions
Kenya’s missions abroad are also affected. Renovation of the New York mission, valued at Sh50 million, is just 6 percent complete after seven years. In Mogadishu, a Sh350 million office block is 77 percent done. In London, the Sh2.67 billion chancery acquisition has seen Sh2.12 billion paid, but completion is pending after four years.
Other missions in Addis Ababa, Dar es Salaam, and Dodoma are stalled, with progress between 13 and 21 percent. Auditor General Nancy Gathungu’s 2023-24 audit found embassies in China, France, Germany, Nigeria, and Tanzania in poor condition. Issues included leaking roofs, cracked walls, peeling paint, and abandoned renovations. Some residences are almost uninhabitable.
Accountability and Oversight Needed
While the government has aimed to buy or construct diplomatic properties to save on rent, escalating costs and slow progress raise questions. There is a clear need for stricter oversight, transparent project management, and better use of taxpayer money to protect Kenya’s diplomatic image.
