Nairobi architect tears into new State House design: “An architectural crime”

• A Kenyan professor of architecture has ignited a fierce online debate after branding the newly renovated State House, Nairobi, an “architectural crime”
• Alfred Omenya left Kenyans arguing after he criticised the building over the top-heavy parapets, terming it a “confused, tasteless design”
• Now, the redesign is facing scrutiny far beyond politics as citizens debate on whether the country’s most iconic residence has lost its identity

Prominent Kenyan architect and academic Alfred Omenya has sparked a heated debate online after delivering a scathing critique of the recently modified State House Nairobi, describing the redesign as “plain mediocre” and “an architectural crime”.

Professor Omenya, who has served as a judge for prestigious global awards, including the Commonwealth Association of Architects Awards and the International Union of Architects Awards, has argued that the renovations ignored fundamental principles of classical architecture.

Errors in new State House design

In a strongly worded statement shared online, the renowned scholar stated that Classical Architecture, like Classical Music, follows very specific rules of composition.

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The professor, who says he has examined architecture programmes at institutions ranging from Harvard to the University of Nairobi and ETH Zurich, claimed the new look of State House demonstrates a misunderstanding of classical architectural language rather than a faithful restoration or extension of a historic building.

According to Omenya, the redesign suffers from several technical flaws, including what he termed the “wrong use of classical proportions and elements”, an “undefined and unproportional roofline”, and a “top-heavy parapet that would put Alberti to shame,” a reference to famed Renaissance architect Leon Battista Alberti.

He further criticised the use of mouldings, cornices, balustrades, and architraves, arguing that these elements had been applied incorrectly both in proportion and relationship to one another.

“Classical architecture is not merely the use of round columns,” he remarked, suggesting that the redesign appears to imitate classical aesthetics superficially without adhering to the discipline’s established principles.

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Kenyans split over State House

Omenya also referenced his former student, Weldon Kimutai, who is reportedly pursuing postgraduate studies in the United States, saying the student had also identified several concerns with the structure’s proportions and detailing.

For comparison, the professor pointed to All Saints Cathedral as an example of how historical buildings can be restored and extended while preserving architectural integrity and institutional identity.

The remarks have triggered widespread reactions online, with some Kenyans agreeing that the redesign lacks elegance and historical sensitivity.

Others defended the government’s efforts, arguing that architecture remains subjective and that public buildings often evolve.

Architectural crime?

State House, Nairobi, has long stood as one of Kenya’s most recognisable symbols of state authority and colonial-era architecture.

Any changes to its appearance are therefore likely to attract scrutiny not only from architects, but also from citizens who view the building as part of the country’s national identity.

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Omenya concluded his criticism by lamenting what he sees as the loss of the building’s institutional character.

“Indeed, the modifications result in a confused tasteless non-style that takes away institutional architecture aesthetics from the building,” he wrote. “The modifications of State House Nairobi is an architectural crime.”

Source: GossipsNG