Counties in the Western Kenya region have embarked on speedy attempts to build governors' residences after the national government announced plans to withdraw house allowance for the county bosses.
In a circular dated 2015, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) had indicated that governors will not receive the allowance beginning this July, which has resulted in a scramble to accommodate the governors.
Consequently, counties of Kakamega and Vihiga have allocated funds to either begin construction or complete incomplete houses, at a cost of below the Sh45 million cap set by the Senate.
In Kakamega, governor Wycliffe Oparanya's residence in Lugari is incomplete, he is currently operating from his own rural home.
Bungoma's Wycliffe Wangamati is operating in a similar manner after rejecting a plan to build him an Sh65 million residence, which he said is not a priority at the time.
In Vihiga, Wilber Otichilo is operating from Sosa Cottages in Vihiga Subcounty with an Sh23 million having been approved for the construction of his official residence.
In Busia, governor Sospeter Ojaamong has requested the county assembly to reduce the allocation for his house to Sh30 million, with the excess of Sh5 million set to be channelled to the Ministry of Water and Environment.
"Having considered the requests by the governor, the committee recommends that Sh5 million for construction of governor’s residence be reduced from Sh35 million to Sh30 million,” reads an acceptance letter by the house.
SRC also indicated that counties also build houses for County Assembly Speakers, as they too will not receive house allowances beginning June 30, 2019.