Vihiga County will splash Ksh103 million to build a mansion for its governor, Wilber Ottichilo.
Reports by Business Daily indicate the two-acre land, where the house will be built, will cost Ksh23.9 million while the luxurious mansion will cost taxpayers Ksh80 million.
The Auditor General revealed that the deal was overpriced.
On Thursday, the governor launched the construction of his official residence before June 30, when house allowances for governors, their deputies and the assembly speakers will be scrapped off.
He asked his contractor, Judas Ekero to speed up the construction.
"We will not have a place to live and sleep from July 1. The contractor should work day and night to ensure that I settle into the house on July 1," stated Ottichilo.
The County also kicked off construction of the Deputy Governors house, Patrick Lumumba Saisi, which is budgeted at Ksh55 million.
In total, the county will use Ksh158 million from the construction of the two houses.
In February, Ottichilo broke his silence on why he was blowing Ksh 150,000 every month on hotel charges.
The Vihiga County Communications Director Victor Wetende clarified that the governor's move was completely within Kenyan law.
He stated that the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) circular entitles governors to a housing allowance starting from Ksh 100,000.
The governor is claimed to be living in hotels before his palatial home is completed.
