Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has designated the Homa Bay County Commissioner’s residence as a State Lodge.
Through a gazette notice published on Tuesday, May 12, Murkomen announced that the residence will officially assume state lodge status starting Friday, May 15.
The notice explains that this declaration serves to inform the public and formally designates the property for official state functions and purposes.
According to the gazette notice, Murkomen stated, “It is notified for the general information of the public that the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration declares Homa Bay County Commissioner’s residence as a State Lodge.”
This declaration follows the construction of the facility in Homa Bay Town last year in preparation for the 2025 Madaraka Day celebrations.
Although it was not previously formally declared as a state lodge, the property has been serving as the county commissioner’s official residence since its completion.
With this designation, the government has now formally elevated the property to an exclusive, high-security secondary residence for the Head of State.
The County Commissioner must now vacate the premises to enable the president and other high-ranking state officials to utilize the facility during regional visits.
Additionally, the responsibility for managing, maintaining, and securing the facility has been transferred from the Ministry of Interior to the State House Comptroller’s office.
State Lodges are government-designated accommodations used for hosting official state engagements, visiting dignitaries, and other important government functions outside the capital city.
With the Homa Bay property now holding state lodge status, the president now has three such facilities in the Nyanza region, including those in Kisumu and Kisii.
This declaration represents an initiative by the administration to establish presidential residences across all 47 counties.
Earlier in 2025, Murkomen also gazetted the official residences of the Bungoma and Kwale County Commissioners as full State Lodges.