In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary…
- The EACC confirmed that no double payments were made to contractors during the 2013/2014 renovations of the Deputy President’s Karen residence, addressing concerns about public fund misuse.
- The Treasury has frozen all public office renovations, including a Ksh.300 million request for the Deputy President’s residences, as part of President Ruto’s austerity measures.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has clarified that contractors who renovated the Deputy President’s residence in Karen did not receive double payments during the 2013/2014 financial year, addressing concerns that public funds were mismanaged due to overpayments.
This clarification was part of the EACC’s quarterly report, which covered cases reported to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) between April 1, 2024, and June 30, 2024.
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The EACC’s investigation revealed that the renovation project was initially started by one contractor who was later dismissed for underperformance, leading to the hiring of a second contractor to complete the work.
This second contractor was the only one paid for the renovations. The need for renovations arose in 2013 when then-Deputy President William Ruto, now the President, recommended changes to the official residence after inspecting the premises.
The EACC also determined that the Ministry of Lands oversaw the project and that all payments made were appropriate.
The commission’s findings confirmed that the renovations were necessary and that no public funds were lost due to double payments, as had been alleged.
Based on these findings, the EACC submitted a report to the DPP on June 3, 2024, recommending the closure of the investigation. The DPP has yet to issue a response.
The official Deputy President’s residence in Karen, which sits on a 10-acre property, was constructed at a cost of Ksh.450 million by the administration of former President Mwai Kibaki.
The residence was officially opened in November 2012 and has since housed several Vice Presidents.
The current Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, is the second occupant of the residence after President Ruto, who had previously dubbed it the “hustlers’ mansion.”
Deputy President Gachagua delayed moving into the official residence for six months, citing the need for extensive renovations.
He mentioned in a May 2023 interview with Mt Kenya vernacular stations that the house was in poor condition when he assumed office, with issues such as a leaking rooftop and a malfunctioning borehole pump.
Gachagua also noted that during Ruto’s tenure as Deputy President, he personally covered expenses such as electricity bills, fuel, and staff accommodation due to insufficient funds allocated for maintaining the residence.
In May 2024, Njeri Eugene, the head of communication services for the Deputy President’s office, announced a request for Ksh.300 million to renovate the Harambee House Annex Office, as well as the official residences in Karen and Mombasa, citing neglect over the past 15 years.
However, just a month later, the Treasury announced a freeze on all public office renovations as part of the austerity measures implemented by President Ruto to address the country’s current economic challenges.