State spends Sh18bn on travel in 9 months despite Ruto's austerity order

The government is struggling to implement President William Ruto's austerity measures, according to a recent report from the Controller of Budget, as billions of shillings are still being allocated to domestic and international travel.

According to the report, domestic travel consumed Sh12.33 billion within the first nine months of the financial year 2023/24 while foreign travel totalled Sh5.85 billion.

Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakanag'o identified the big spenders on local and foreign travel within the government as the National Assembly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Senate, the Judiciary, and the State House.

The State Department of Foreign Affairs gobbled Sh1.91 billion, with Sh193.74 million going to local travel while Sh1.712 billion was used for foreign tours.

Senate led by Speaker Amason Kingi, accumulated travel expenditures of up to Sh1.7 billion, with Sh1.07 billion allocated to domestic travel and Sh592.29 million going to foreign travel.

The Judiciary, under Chief Justice Martha Koome, also used Sh1.2 billion for travel during the period under review. Out of this expenditure, Sh166.06 million was spent on domestic travel, while Sh1.03 billion was used on foreign globetrotting.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's office spent Sh368.52 million, including Sh247.48 million on local travel and Sh121.04 on foreign travel. The State House gobbled up Sh898.02 million, with Sh750.36 million spent on domestic travel and Sh147.66 million on foreign travel.

Nyakang'o, in her report, warned that the figure on expenditure on both local and international travel could be higher as some state offices withheld information from her office.

Among those who did not release information as expected were the State House, the National Treasury, the Office of the President, the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, the Office of the Deputy President, and the National Assembly.

US President Joe Biden receives his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto at the White House on May 22, 2024. (Photo: PCS)

The report comes even as President William Ruto is in South Korea to attend the Africa and South Korea Summit, which will discuss areas of mutual interest, including trade promotion, industrialization, infrastructure development, and job creation.

"The discussions will also cover agricultural productivity, climate change response, and transitioning to carbon-free energy," State House spokesperson Hussein Mohamed said.

"These topics align with President Ruto's roles as the African Union Champion for Institutional Reform and the Chair of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change."

During his visit, President Ruto will hold bilateral talks with President Yoon Suk Yeol to review the progress of the Sh132 billion Framework Arrangement partnership agreed upon during his last visit in November 2022.

Last week, the Head of State was under intense pressure to defend himself over the cost of a luxurious jet that chauffeured him and his delegation to the United States for a State Visit.

He insisted that taxpayers only footed a modest sum of Sh10 million for the jet rather than the previously reported figures of Sh200 million.

"I am a very responsible steward, believe you me. There is no way I can spend Sh200 million. In fact, it cost the Republic of Kenya less than Sh10 million. I am not a mad man. When I was told the cheapest plane was Sh70 million, I told my office to go and book Kenya Airways...some friends asked me how much I wanted to pay. I said I wasn't ready to pay more than Sh10 million. They told me to bring the money and they gave me the plane," Ruto explained while speaking at the Safari Park Hotel, in Nairobi, last week during the National Prayer Breakfast.

Ruto austerity measures 

State House, in a statement released in defence of Ruto added that "The President continues to lead from the front in implementing austerity measures to ensure Kenya lives within its means. He is encouraged by government ministries, departments, and agencies to take the cue and is on course to ensure Kenya records a balanced budget in three years' time."

Ruto also insisted that his administration was running on a balanced budget based on various measures instituted to curb overspending and reduce the wage bill. Among the measures was his directive to all arms of government to slash recurrent expenditures and desist from inflating budgets.