State House is the official residence of the president of Kenya. It was the prime minister’s residence from independence until 12 December 1964 when Kenya became a republic.

It has been the official residence of the president ever since. After independence, Government House was renamed State House. Although it remained the official residence of the Head of State.

This scenario has prevailed to-date with the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and President Moi preferring private residences as opposed to living in State House.

Government House in Nairobi, now State House, was built in 1907 in Nairobi to serve as the official residence of the governor of British East Africa, when Kenya was a colony within the British Empire.

The governor would conduct his official functions at the old Provincial Commissioner’s office next to Nyayo House and then retire to Government House for the day. It was designed by the British architect Sir Herbert Baker.