State House to Auction Vehicles, Scrap Metal and Furniture as Multi-Billion Renovation Spending Faces Scrutiny
The Executive Office of the President has announced plans to auction a wide range of unserviceable government assets, including motor vehicles, scrap metal, old tyres, televisions and broken furniture, in a move that will give members of the public a rare opportunity to bid for property linked to Kenya’s most powerful office.
According to a public notice dated June 9, State House is seeking to dispose of items that have been declared obsolete or no longer fit for use through a public auction scheduled later this month.
Among the items listed for sale are unserviceable motor vehicles, Toyota gearboxes, old motor vehicle batteries, halogen security lights, a car wash machine, assorted televisions, scrap metal and various pieces of damaged furniture.
“The Executive Office of the President, State House, intends to sell by public auction unserviceable motor vehicles, scrap metal, assorted old tyres, assorted TVs, old motor vehicle batteries, a car wash machine, Toyota gearboxes, halogen security lights, and assorted broken furniture, among other items,” the notice stated.
The auction is set to take place on June 23 from 10am at the State Department for Roads in Ruiru, Kiambu County.
However, interested bidders will first be required to part with a refundable deposit of KSh50,000 before being allowed to participate.
State House indicated that the deposit must be paid in cash at the Executive Office of the President cash office located at Harambee House in Nairobi during normal working hours.
“The prospective bidders are required to pay a refundable deposit of KSh50,000 payable in the form of cash at the cash office, Executive Office of the President-State House in Nairobi, during normal working hours,” the notice added.
Prospective buyers have also been advised to obtain detailed information regarding the auction, including the catalogue of available items, viewing schedules and terms of sale, through government procurement portals.
The disposal exercise comes at a time when the Kenya Kwanza administration continues to face questions over billions of shillings allocated towards the renovation and upgrading of State House and presidential lodges across the country.
President William Ruto’s administration has overseen a large-scale refurbishment programme covering the historic 117-year-old State House in Nairobi and several official presidential residences.
Government budget documents show that more than KSh4.5 billion has been earmarked for the renovation programme, which forms part of a long-term refurbishment plan expected to run until 2027.
Expenditure on the project has increased significantly over recent financial years. Allocations rose from KSh122.8 million during the 2022/23 financial year and KSh50 million in 2023/24 to KSh1.55 billion in 2024/25, bringing cumulative spending to nearly KSh2.9 billion over the period.
In the current 2025/26 financial year, the Office of the President received an additional KSh2.3 billion allocation, with KSh894.9 million specifically directed towards maintenance, renovations and upgrades at State House Nairobi and presidential lodges.
Budget allocations were spread across multiple facilities nationwide, with State House Nairobi receiving the largest share at KSh775 million. Other beneficiaries included Mombasa, Nakuru, Eldoret, Sagana, Kakamega, Kisumu, Meru and Kisii presidential lodges.
The latest auction is likely to attract public interest, not only because of the unusual range of items on offer, but also due to the ongoing debate surrounding government spending on State House renovations amid broader economic pressures facing many Kenyans.
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