A donated piece of land could be returned back to the government after MPs raised concerns over its impact on security at the Kisumu State Lodge.
The recommendation was made by the Administration and Internal Security Committee following an inspection visit to Kakamega and Kisumu State Lodges to asess the condition of the facilities and adress ongoing challenges.
At the Kisumu State Lodge, Manager Vincent Ndubi informed the Committee of a worrying security issue involving a section of land that was previously donated to Kenya Railways and the Kenya Coast Guard.
According to Ndubi, the land should be reclaimed by State House due to the security threat posed to the facility since the takeover by the two other state bodies.
“For security and safety purposes, the land that was donated should be reclaimed back to State House,” Ndubi stated, highlighting the strategic importance of consolidating the State Lodge’s land holdings.
Besides the reclamation of the contentious piece of land, Ndubi also called for the construction of a perimeter wall around the lodge to enhance security.
The Kisumu State Lodge was among the government institutions which had been earmarked for renovations.
The proposed refurbishment budget for State Houses and State Lodges for the 2025/26 financial year, Kisumu State Lodge had an allocation of Ksh77 million.
At the Kakamega State Lodge, Manager Gladys Khisa raised concerns about sewer connections, which she claimed was deteriorating.
She appealed to the committee to allocate funds to link the lodge to the main sewer line which is located five kilometres away. This is despite the fact that the Kakamega State Lodge received an allocation of Ksh28.1 million against a requirement of Ksh34 million.
This was the second time concern has been raised about a State facility this week, coming days after alarm was raised over the alleged deplorable conditions of Nakuru State House, which is suffering from flawed amenities, including a leaking roof.
The State House's facilities were flagged following a recent inspection by the Administration and Internal Security Committee of Parliament.
According to the committee, Nakuru State House had several vulnerabilities ranging from inadequate security to leaking infrastructure.
Committee Chair Gabriel Tongoyo revealed that lawmakers visited the residence to assess the progress and completion status of ongoing refurbishment works.
