Interior CS Fred Matiang’i gazetted Kisii State Lodge as a protected area on Wednesday, October 21, the same day President Uhuru Kenyatta received the BBI report.
The government unveiled the new look State Lodge that many Kenyans had no idea was being upgraded.
An insider who spoke to Kenyans.co.ke revealed that the building, which used to serve as the county commissioner’s residence had been renovated, with contractors rushing to meet the deadline.
Construction works started as soon as President Kenyatta announced that the next national holiday celebrations would be held in Kisii County.
Whenever the Head of State makes such an announcement or plans to tour or visit a certain place, the government moves to give the area a facelift.
“There are companies which tender for what we call emergency works. They are called in to make such emergency upgrades and renovations,” said a contractor who participates in such works.
For months, a team was working on the State Lodge while another was involved in the renovation of the Gusii Stadium.
The facelift at Kisii State Lodge included remodelling of the house to give the building a presidential look complete with its signature white paint job.
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The renovations also included a perimeter wall and electric fence, lighting, pathways, the road network in and around the house, the gate and rehabilitation of the grounds to host the post Mashujaa lunch and BBI event.
Photos and video obtained by Kenyans.co.ke were only availed because the area was not yet gazetted as a protected area.
After it was declared as a State Lodge, it is now illegal to take photos and videos of the residence without express permission from the security authorities.
“As a presidential residence, the building is now under 24-hour protection by the presidential guard which is officially referred to as GSU G-Company,” a former presidential escort officer told Kenyans.co.ke.
The BBI function became the first event held at the State Lodge and those present served as the President’s first guests at the residence.
The Presidential Delivery Unit team led by the Kisii County Commissioner and PDU Directors Melchizedek Onguso and Tutah Richard ensured that other than the State Lodge, other projects were delivered.
They included the Kisii Cold Storage Facility, Nyakoe Modern Market, Suneka Airstrip Phase I, lighting in the CBD, Kisii Water Treatment Plant as well as the Daraja Mbili Market.
