Spending on office furniture and refurbishment across government offices and official residences has risen by more than half in revised budget estimates, opening opportunities for local manufacturers as President William Ruto pushes public institutions to source domestically.
Supplementary budget documents for the current financial year ending in June show that allocations for office makeovers have increased from Sh522.19 million in the initial budget to Sh821.37 million in the revised estimates, a 57.29 percent jump.
The documents, tabled in Parliament last week by the National Treasury, show that spending on furniture and general equipment has increased from Sh219.7 million to Sh334.3 million, while the budget for refurbishment of government buildings has risen from Sh302.5 million to Sh487.1 million following mid-year adjustments.
The expanded spending comes at a time when President Ruto has been urging government offices to prioritise locally manufactured furniture, arguing that Kenya has sufficient timber resources and manufacturing capacity to meet public sector demand while creating jobs.
In October 2025, while lifting a ban on logging in the expansive Mau Forest, the President directed Lee Kinyanjui, the Cabinet Secretary for Trade, to initiate measures aimed at restricting furniture imports to stimulate local production.
Kenya already imposes steep import charges on furniture, including a 45 percent duty, 16 percent value-added tax, a 2.5 percent import declaration fee and a two percent railway development levy.
“I have directed Trade CS to revive sawmills and sell mature trees to local millers, to enable them to manufacture furniture here at home. Kenya has enough timber to create jobs and grow the economy,” Dr Ruto said at the time. “We must stop importing furniture from other countries like China and Dubai to boost the manufacturing capacity in our country. Why should we continue importing beds, chairs, and tables, yet we have the raw materials to make these things?”
Top gainers
The revised figures also mark a turnaround for a category of spending that had earlier been curtailed after deadly youth-led anti-government protests forced the Ruto administration to shelve a plan for new and higher taxes for the financial year ended June 2025, leaving a Sh344.3 billion hole in the budget.
The latest revisions, however, show that a number of State departments have since secured fresh allocations for office fittings and equipment as the government adjusts spending priorities mid-year.
The Treasury recorded one of the biggest increases in furniture spending, with its allocation rising from Sh5.6 million to Sh28.8 million, signalling additional purchases of office equipment and furnishings. State House has also received a new allocation of Sh23 million in the revised estimates after initially having no budget for furniture and general equipment.
Several departments that had no allocations in the original budget have now been included in the revised spending plan. These include:
Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary: Sh6.55 million.
The revised estimates also show significant increases in spending on furniture and general equipment for some departments and independent commissions. Key changes include:
Children Services: from Sh7.3 million to Sh27.3 million.
Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs: from Sh8 million to Sh18 million.
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission: from Sh1.4 million to Sh13.4 million.
Parliamentary Joint Services: from Sh10 million to Sh13 million.
Public Service Commission: from Sh4.27 million to Sh18.77 million.
East African Community Affairs: from Sh18.5 million to Sh21.5 million.
Some ministries have, however, seen their allocations for furniture and general equipment reduced. The changes include:
Lands and Physical Planning: from Sh90 million to Sh57 million (recorded the biggest cut, although it remains the largest allocation in this category).
Diaspora Affairs: from Sh24.4 million to Sh21.9 million.
Foreign Affairs (including missions abroad): from Sh8.34 million to Sh6.74 million.
Economic Planning: from Sh8.75 million to Sh3.75 million.
Controller of Budget: from Sh11.87 million to Sh5.87 million.
Some departments, including Shipping and Maritime Affairs and Aviation and Aerospace Development, had their initial furniture allocations removed altogether.
Spending on refurbishment of government buildings has also increased by 61.02 percent in the revised budget. Major changes include:
State Department for Special Programmes: from Sh8.5 million to Sh108.5 million.
Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs: from Sh13.6 million to Sh61.5 million.
Witness Protection Agency: from Sh15 million to Sh33.2 million.
Commission on Revenue Allocation: from Sh900,000 to Sh15.9 million
Several institutions that had no initial allocations were also introduced in the amended budget:
State Department for Aviation and Aerospace Development: Sh56 million.
Judicial Service Commission: Sh19.3 million.
National Treasury: Sh3.93 million.
Some departments recorded cuts in refurbishment spending, including:
East African Community Affairs: from Sh180 million to Sh125 million.
Diaspora Affairs: from Sh70 million to Sh40.9 million.
