Several governors who got into office after the 2013 elections had no official residences. So, some opted to stay in their private homes while others, like Kisumu’s Jack Ranguma, decided to be in hotels.

Some people find it preposterous to stay in a hotel while your home is just 15 kilometres away.

Ranguma checked into a hotel in Kisumu as the house which he was to stay in was still occupied by former mayor Sam Okello and was to be renovated after he left, governor’s chief- of-staff Kennedy Hongo told The Star.

Well, the explanation was good enough but not the costs.

Kenyans were shocked when Auditor-General Edward Ouko revealed that the less than 4-month stay at Royal City Hotel costed the county government KSh 20,910,169 for the full board accommodation.

‘Royal’ services offered by the hotel included car hire, laundry and porter services.

The hotel charges KSh 12,000 for VIP rooms per night. They rooms have among other things; flat screen TVs, wireless internet, tea and coffee making facility, air conditioners and mini bar fridges.

The county government further paid KSh 552,124 for Jack Ranguma’s full accommodation at the hotel between July 9, 2013 and August 1, 2013, yet the governor is said to have moved out on July 9.

The auditor also questioned why Ranguma hired a car from the hotel at KSh 25,000 a day yet there were three official vehicles for him.

Car hire and fuel expenses costed KSh 5,552,913 in total.

He was not the only governor in the hotel. Siaya’s Cornel Rasanga and Migori’s Okoth Obado also stayed in the facility briefly when they had court petitions ongoing at the High Court.