The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and international interest.

Standard Group Plc HQ Office,
The Standard Group Center,Mombasa Road.
P.O Box 30080-00100,Nairobi, Kenya.
Telephone number: 0203222111, 0719012111
Email: [email protected]

NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

State House renovations risk losing our history, architects say

National

By Esther Nyambura | Feb 04, 2025

**The new look of State House Nairobi after renovations. [**PCS]

The Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) has raised concerns over renovations at State House, Nairobi, warning that the changes compromise its historical and cultural significance.

In a statement on Monday, February 3, AAK acknowledged the need for renovations to maintain the building’s structural integrity, but criticised the extent of the modifications.

The association argued that the changes significantly deviate from the original neo-classical design envisioned by British architect Sir Herbert Baker in 1907.

Among the notable changes, AAK cited the replacement of red roofing tiles, the addition of a deep roof parapet that alters the building’s character, and the merging of two entrances into a large canopy that disrupts its symmetry.

The association also raised concerns about the potential removal of key architectural features, such as chimneys.

Keep Reading business

AAK compared the situation to the demolition of the Uhuru Park Pavilion, warning that Kenya risks erasing its historical landmarks without due consideration. It urged the government to stop further alterations, establish heritage conservation guidelines, and consult experts and the public before making changes to national monuments.

“The design alterations diminish the recognition of State House as we know it. A similar mutilation was inflicted on the Uhuru Park Pavilion, which was demolished without regard for its historical significance, denying future generations a connection to their past,” the statement read.

Citing global examples such as Ethiopia’s National Jubilee Palace and Ghana’s Christiansborg Castle, AAK stressed the importance of preserving State House’s original design to safeguard its historical integrity.

The association also called on the National Museum of Kenya to compile a list of key public buildings and subject them to public scrutiny before renovations.

Their remarks come a week after the unveiling of the renovated State House, which cost approximately Sh1.7 billion.