The government has commenced plans to upgrade and refurbish the official residence of the Deputy President after the current occupant revealed that the 'Hustlers Mansion' was in a state of disrepair.
According to the Budget Implementation Review Report by the Controller of Budget, the government will spend nearly Ksh600 million for the upgrade.
As detailed by the report released by the CoB Margaret Nyakang'o on Tuesday, Ksh100 million was already used to carry out crucial repairs at the residence which cost taxpayers Ksh450 million during construction.
Further, Nyakang'o revealed that the construction work began in July last year.
In March last year, Gachagua revealed that he was yet to occupy the Karen residence given that the roof was leaking and some equipment was broken.
He blamed former President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration for neglecting the house asserting that the move was part of plans of the Jubilee administration to punish President William Ruto, who was then serving as the DP.
Gachagua further alleged that Ruto was forced to pay utility bills from his pocket.
"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," he alleged.
However, two months later in May 2023, reports indicated that Gachagua moved to his official Karen residence where he has been holding sub-Cabinet Committee meetings and engagements with diplomats.
The official DP residence sits on a 10-acre plot in the Karen suburb. It comprises a two-storey residence, an office, servant quarters and an expansive swimming pool. Ruto further built a church at the residence in 2019.
