Nyayo House, one of Nairobi’s busiest government buildings, is facing a crisis after the National Treasury was forced to redirect a Ksh70 million funding.
Speaking before parliament, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen admitted that the building, which houses the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services, is in urgent need of repairs.
However, the funding meant for renovations at the establishment had to be put to other uses.
Nyayo House serves thousands of Kenyans daily, especially those seeking passport and immigration services.
However, the establishment has broken lifts, dilapidated washrooms, and poor ventilation, sparking public complaints.
“Previously, the Ministry engaged the State Department for Public Works to assess the necessary maintenance works at Nyayo House.
“A Bill of Quantities amounting to Ksh244,831,860 was provided, but the Ministry does not have the funds at the moment to undertake the refurbishment,” said Murkomen.
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Treasury Diverts Nyayo House Renovation Funds
At the same time, the CS noted that although Ksh70 million had also been allocated for renovations in the 2024/2025 financial year, the National Treasury reallocated the funds because of financial constraints.
The move has left Nyayo House operations in limbo, with incomplete refurbishments and no timeline for further repairs.
“Due to ongoing austerity measures, the National Treasury reallocated the funds. The Ministry remains hopeful that the National Treasury will disburse the necessary funds to allow the completion of the planned renovations,” noted the CS.
Although the Principal Secretary’s office and select floors have undergone renovations, the majority of public service areas remain in a sorry state.
“Renovations are ongoing to improve service delivery and the work environment for both staff and clients. Completed renovations include the Principal Secretary’s Office (23rd Floor), the Directorate of e-Citizen Services (23rd, 22nd, and 17th Floors),
“The ground floor service lobby, where passport applications and issuance take place, has been fully renovated and expanded to accommodate more clients,” explained Murkomen.
Nyayo House was commissioned approximately 42 years ago and currently accommodates over 58 National and County Government departments, which provide essential services to citizens, especially immigration services.
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Murkomen Defends Maintenance of the Building
The CS indicated that the Government had taken several measures to ensure that both the public and government officials at Nyayo House had access to necessary facilities.
Some of the facilities he noted were not affected, including clean water supply from Nairobi City County.
Murkomen also said that the building has reserve water tanks on the rooftop to address potential shortages
Moreover, the government has ensured that Nyayo house has outsourced cleaning services to maintain hygiene and sanitary conditions
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