Uhuru to govern from State House

PHOTO | FILE According to the new government structure, the President’s residence and Executive office will all be at State House, Nairobi.  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By NATION REPORTER
 

 

In Summary

• Harambee House will be left to the Office of Cabinet Affairs, which will be headed by the Secretary to the Cabinet, Mr Francis Kimemia

President Kenyatta’s base will be at State House in Nairobi.

According to the new government structure released on Tuesday, the President’s residence and Executive office will all be at the white building in the Milimani neighbourhood.

The four agencies that will have access to the presidency are the National Intelligence Service, the National Security Council, and the State Corporations Advisory Council.

Direct command

The team supervising the construction of the seaport in Lamu, and the railway and pipeline to Ethiopia and South Sudan will also be under the direct command of President Kenyatta.

Deputy President William Ruto will be based at his office on Harambee Avenue (formerly the Shell & BP House).

Harambee House, which former President Kibaki used for official business, will be left to the Office of Cabinet Affairs, which will be headed by the Secretary to the Cabinet, Mr Francis Kimemia.

The Cabinet Affairs Office will communicate Cabinet decisions to “persons and authorities” to ensure that government policy is implemented. The office will also store minutes of the Cabinet and will be key in “arranging the business of the Cabinet”.

The President is the chairman of the Cabinet and is responsible for leadership and overall policy direction of the country.

He is also the symbol of national unity and has a duty of appointing Cabinet secretaries, ambassadors and other public officials as provided for in the law.

The President will also be the one to proclaim public holidays and will have in mind intergovernmental summits and keep Parliament updated on government policy.

President Kenyatta also provided an official email address for State House: (contact@statehouse.go.ke).

The one for the presidency is president@statehouse.go.ke, which is alongside his official Twitter handle @UKenyatta. State House can be tweeted via @statehousekenya. The website is www.statehouse.go.ke.