Ruto Clarifies Report on Renovating Deputy President’s Residence

Deputy president William Ruto has said he is confortable living in his Karen home even though the Government has given him official residence in the same neighbourhood. Ruto said if there is apprehension about the renovation cost of his official house in Karen, then he can forego it and live in his current residence.“I can stay in my current house in Karen because I am also comfortable there,” said Ruto.

The official residence of the Deputy president built using taxpayer’s money and is barely a year old and is set to be renovated reportedly at a cost of a whooping Sh100million. the official residence in Karen, that was completed recently but is earmarked for renovation, has stirred public furry and opposition because the house has not even been occupied.

Ruto defended himself saying when he was informed about the intended renovation, he scaled down the cost from Sh247 million to Sh75 million. “I championed for the reduction of the renovation cost in order to reduce the wage bill which as a govern- ment, we are committed to achieve,” he said.
He said he shelved some of the intended renovation like the initial plan which was mooted to have the house be fitted with bullet proof windows and doors in order to save on the taxpayers’ money. the report came soon after another that questioned the hiring of a private jet by the Deputy president on this comes after the hiring of a Sh100m million private jet by Deputy president on his West Africa tour.

Ruto was speaking yesterday during a live morning interview with a local tv station when he was taking stock of 100 days of Jubilee Government. He took theopportunity to explain the house the Government is set to renovate is Government property and not personal house. “That house belongs to the Government and not me as an individual,” he said. According sources from the public works, which will oversee the renovation of the building, many components of the building will be replaced.- The People