A recent report by Kenya’s Controller of Budget, Margaret Nyakang’o, reveals a significant reduction in county government spending on foreign trips during the first three months of the current fiscal year.
For the first time in years, officials from 30 counties, including governors, county executives, and Members of County Assembly (MCAs), did not undertake any international travel during the period.
The report highlights a dramatic decline in foreign travel expenditure, with counties collectively spending Ksh97.2 million, compared to Ksh324 million during the same period last year. This marks a notable shift in a long-standing trend of high county spending on overseas trips, often criticized as wasteful and lacking tangible benefits.
Counties Leading the Way in Cost-Cutting
Counties that reported no spending on foreign travel include Baringo, Kiambu, Machakos, Elgeyo Marakwet, Migori, Kwale, Kajiado, Embu, Taita Taveta, and Tana River. Others include Homa Bay, Turkana, Kericho, Mombasa, Samburu, Mandera, Murang’a, Wajir, Kisii, Meru, Uasin Gishu, Kitui, Kirinyaga, Isiolo, Tharaka Nithi, Marsabit, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Vihiga, Lamu, and Nyamira.
Notably, some counties, such as Baringo, Homa Bay, Isiolo, Kajiado, Kirinyaga, Kisii, Mandera, Tharaka Nithi, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, and West Pokot, have not incurred any foreign travel expenses for two consecutive years.
Wasteful Expenditure Under Scrutiny
Foreign trips by county officials have long been a point of contention, with critics labeling them as extravagant and of questionable value. In previous years, counties spent as much as Ksh17 billion on international travel. The new data suggests that growing public scrutiny and financial pressures may be curbing such expenditures.
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya emphasized the shift in priorities, stating that funds previously allocated to travel have been redirected to developmental projects. “Travelling abroad is overrated. In 2023-24, we would have spent Ksh8 million on travels abroad, which we saved and used for other things like providing milk for our nursery school children,” he said.
Persistent Spending in Other Counties
Despite the overall reduction, 16 counties still reported significant spending on foreign travel, amounting to nearly Ksh100 million within three months. Top spenders include Busia (Ksh20 million), Nyeri (Ksh17 million), Kisumu (Ksh16.2 million), Laikipia (Ksh12.8 million), Makueni (Ksh9 million), and Nairobi (Ksh6 million).
The report details specific trips that drew public ire, such as six Busia officials spending Ksh3 million on a benchmarking trip to China for rainwater harvesting, and 14 MCAs from the same county spending Ksh6 million in Dubai for a governance workshop. Nyeri officials were among the most frequent travelers, with multiple trips to Dubai, Singapore, and Arusha, totaling millions of shillings.
Calls for Accountability
The Controller of Budget has consistently criticized such trips as potential examples of wasteful expenditure. With many counties grappling with cash flow challenges, the report underscores the need for greater fiscal discipline and prioritization of resources toward critical services and development projects.
As the debate over public spending continues, the report serves as a call to action for county governments to demonstrate accountability and align expenditures with the needs of their constituents.
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