The planned refurbishment of the Office of the Deputy President and the Karen residence has been halted following the revision of the 2024/2025 budget.
As detailed in the revised Programme Based Budget, the government will not fund the refurbishment and maintenance work at the office and residence.
It was noted that the revisions were done following the reduction of the budget to the Office of the Deputy President by Ksh1.8 billion.
The budget cuts follow the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2023 which was set to generate an additional Ksh300 billion for the budget.
Therefore, after the withdrawal of the Finance Bill, President William Ruto announced that the government would be taking austerity measures including the suspension of refurbishments and maintenance work at government buildings.
Notably, the refurbishment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's official residence was to be undertaken to the tune of Ksh600 million.
Already, part of the funding had already been disbursed in the last financial year. The funding was to be spread out within four years.
Earlier after getting into office, Gachagua explained that the official residence had major faults including a leaking roof and other broken items.
"The official residence of the Deputy President was in bad shape when I became Deputy President. The rooftop was leaking, the borehole pump was broken down, and the house was totally in bad shape.
"Even if I would want to move into the DP's residence, that place is inhabitable. I found Ruto staying in a house where the roof is leaking. They had even moved to a corner of the house together with the wife," Gachagua stated during a past media interview.
Equally, following the directive by President William Ruto, the budget allocated to the Office of the Spouse of the Deputy President has been removed.
In the current financial year, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi was to receive Ksh557 million.
