President William Ruto has defended the multi-million shilling renovations at State House Nairobi, saying he found the historic building in a state of disrepair when he assumed office.
Speaking during the 35th Embu Diocesan Anniversary at St. Mark’s College on Sunday, July 7, 2025, Ruto said the roof was leaking and the timber had rotted after more than a century of wear.
“Nimekuja pale nikakuta State House ni nyumba imelijengwa miaka 120 iliyopita. Ile mbao ilikuwa imewekwa siku hiyo imeoza hapo State House. Paa inatoka maji. Nikasema wacha nirekebishe. Saa ile mimi narekebisha mnataka nirekebishe State House mimi niishi mahali mzuri alafu kanisa ya Mungu ibaki ya mabati? Hiyo swali nikiulizwa nikipatana na Mungu nitajibu namna gani? Niseme ati mimi nilikuwa nakaa State House nyumba ya mawe na kanisa ya Mungu ni ya mabati? Wacha nijengee Mungu kanisa hapo State House,” he said.
Translation: “I arrived and found that State House is a house built 120 years ago. The timber used back then is now rotten. The roof was leaking. I said, let me fix it. Now, if I am repairing State House so I can live well, and yet leave God’s church as a tin-roofed structure, how will I answer God? Should I say I lived in a stone house while God’s church was made of iron sheets? Let me build God a church at State House.”
Ruto even quoted Haggai 1:4, a verse in the Bible which questions why people live in luxurious houses while God’s house lies in ruins.
Historic facelift sparks debate
Built in 1907 by British architect Herbert Baker, State House had not seen major repairs for decades. In 2024, the entire main building was closed for refurbishment, including changes to the roof, porches, and internal structure.
Photos released in January 2025 showed a modern flat-roof design replacing the iconic red-tile roof.
While some say the renovations were necessary due to safety concerns, critics argue the spending is excessive, especially during economic hardship and budget cuts across essential sectors.
The Architectural Association of Kenya also raised concerns that the redesign removes important historic features and should have been subject to public consultation.
Kenneth Mwenda
Kenneth Mwenda is a digital writer with over five years of experience. He graduated in February 2022 with a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from The Co-operative University of Kenya. He has written news and feature stories for platforms such as Construction Review Online, Sports Brief, Briefly News, and Criptonizando. In 2023, he completed a course in Digital Investigation Techniques with AFP. He joined K24 Digital in May 2025. For inquiries, he can be reached at [email protected].
