Former Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana on Monday, January 22, pressured President William Ruto to pump millions into the Mtito Andei State Lodge in Makueni County.
Kivutha remarked that it was wrong for what he described as Ruto seeking accommodation in hotels and private lodges whenever he toured the larger Ukambani region.
The former governor faulted the government for not allocating any money for the construction of the lodge in the 2023/2024 financial year.
This was despite the renovation of the State Lodge being earlier allocated Ksh5 million which has since been slashed in the supplementary budget.
“Mtito Andei of Makueni and South Eastern Region of Kenya should be remembered,” Kivutha complained.
“It is not fair for the Head of State to lodge in a hotel or a private residence when he visits Ukambani. Those people are not orphans.”
Mtito Andei State Lodge is situated in Tsavo National Park, on the border of Taita-Taveta and Makueni counties.
In 2016, the government stated that it would renovate the State Lodge which was dilapidated and in a sorry state.
Additionally, investigations revealed that part of the land belonging to the State Lodge had already been grabbed.
In the 2023/2024 financial year, Ruto’s government will spend Ksh1.3 billion to renovate State Houses and lodges.
For State House, Nairobi, the government has projected spending Ksh795 million to renovate the House on the Hill
Other facilities to be renovated include; Mombasa State House (Ksh302 Million), Nakuru State House (Ksh125 Million), Eldoret State Lodge (Ksh30 Million), and Sagana State Lodge (Ksh27 million).
The government will also renovate Kakamega, Kisumu, and Kisii State lodges at a cost of Ksh10 million, Ksh9.94 million, and Ksh9 million respectively.
