Lawyer Nelson Havi and veteran banker Mohamed Wehliye have launched a blistering attack on President William Ruto’s administration over the construction of a new State Lodge in Wajir.
Havi and Wehliye accused the government of erecting symbols of power while ordinary Kenyans struggle without basic services.
The criticism erupted after the government confirmed plans to establish the first State Lodge in Kenya’s North Eastern region, a project officials say is meant to strengthen state presence and ease presidential operations in the region.
New Wajir State Lodge. pic.twitter.com/AqY7SGuGlu
— Ministry of Interior | Kenya (@InteriorKE) May 14, 2026
But to critics, the project paints a far darker picture: a government obsessed with prestige projects as hospitals crumble, schools strain under neglect and millions battle a punishing economy.
Extravagant monuments
Wehliye, known for his sharp commentary on governance and public finance, dismissed the growing network of state lodges as extravagant monuments feeding an already bloated State House budget.
“State lodges everywhere. Just waste of resources. Close all & sell the land,” he wrote in a sharply worded post that quickly ricocheted across social media.
Then came the sting.
“We give presidents choppers. They can go anywhere every day if they want to. President aende kazi arudi SH. No wonder SH has budget ya a whole Ministry!”
His remarks captured a growing frustration among Kenyans who see soaring government spending colliding violently with rising taxes, youth unemployment and painful cuts in public services.
State lodges everywhere. Just waste of resources. Close all & sell the land. We give presidents choppers. They can go anywhere every day if they want to. President aende kazi arudi SH. No wonder SH has budget ya a whole Ministry! https://t.co/RKobdqeoLL
— Mohamed Wehliye, MBS (@WehliyeMohamed) May 14, 2026
Havi, never one to soften his blows, turned the debate into a moral indictment of the state itself.
“Why build all these edifices yet we cannot build schools and hospitals for the People of North Eastern in particular and the People of Kenya in General?” he posed.
The question landed heavily because North Eastern Kenya has long stood as one of the country’s most underserved regions – a vast, dusty frontier where many communities still travel great distances for healthcare, water and education.
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Now, critics say, gleaming State compounds are rising faster than classrooms.
However, supporters of the Wajir State Lodge hailed the project, saying it represents inclusion and visibility in a region historically overlooked by successive governments.
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