Ruto floats Sh46m tender for home repair

The State is seeking a contractor to complete the Sh46.5 million refurbishment of the second home for Deputy President William Ruto in Mombasa.

Office of the Deputy President wants to hire the contractor to upgrade the former residence of the Coast provincial commissioner (PC) into the official home of Mr Ruto.

Treasury allocated Sh39 million in the current financial year starting July for renovating the building, next to State House, on top of the Sh7.7 million already spent on the home — bringing the total to Sh46.5 million.

The contractor is expected to refurbish the house to befit the status of the Deputy President. The house is unoccupied.

“Proposed completion of the refurbishment works to the former PC’s home, Mombasa for the HE the Deputy President,” said a tender notice from the Office of the Deputy President

Former Coast PC and a past Coast regional coordinator Samuel Kilele was the last occupant of the house.

Taxpayers will also pay Sh50 million to build a second office in Mombasa for the second most powerful man in the country.

The government opted against leasing an office for Mr Ruto in Mombasa on security grounds, prompting plans to build the block.

In Nairobi, Mr Ruto has preferred to reside at his private home instead of the palatial Karen property that sits a 10-acre piece of land.

The Deputy President uses the Sh400 million Karen residence for official functions, especially when hosting delegations, besides his main office in Nairobi on Harambee Avenue The Karen residence will be refurbished at Sh15.6 million and Harambee Avenue office at Sh35 million,

During official working tours in the Coast, Mr Ruto is expected to put up at the new residence as opposed to staying at beach hotels like has been the case in the past, while President Uhuru Kenyatta spends time at State House in Mombasa.