Kenya’s Controller of Budget, Margaret Nyakang’o, has warned of excessive government spending on travel, revealing that the national government expended 25.46 billion Kenyan shillings ($197 million) on local and foreign trips in the financial year ending June 30, 2025. This comes despite President William Ruto’s repeated promises to slash such costs by 50% to redirect funds toward development amid economic pressures.
The report, covering July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, highlights a failure to curb expenditures that were first targeted for cuts two years ago. In 2023, Ruto pledged to reduce travel spending by 11 billion shillings across all departments. He reiterated stricter measures in 2024 following widespread Gen Z-led protests that forced the withdrawal of the Finance Bill, which had aimed to address a budgetary deficit.
Nyakang’o emphasized the impact on national priorities. “I still see elements of too much foreign travel, and in a sense, what that means is that we are encroaching on those resources that we should be using for development,” she said. The report notes a decline in overall development expenditure compared to the 2023-2024 financial year, despite adequate disbursements. “When you look at the deliverables, they were not commensurate to the funds that had been dispersed,” Nyakang’o added.
State House, the president’s office, drew particular attention to the requisition of an additional 5 billion shillings under Article 223 of the constitution, which permits emergency funding. These funds supported domestic travel, hospitality, supplies, fuel, and vehicle maintenance.
Nyakang’o explained the ripple effects: “These funds have to come from somewhere. So either another vote must be reduced… or we must borrow, and therefore by extension, our indebtedness… is impacted.”
Popular destinations for officials included Dubai in the UAE, London in the UK, South Africa, and the United States, according to the findings.
The revelations raise questions about fiscal discipline in East Africa’s largest economy, which faces mounting debt and public demands for accountability.
Analysts suggest this could fuel further scrutiny from parliament and civil society, potentially pressuring the government to enforce promised reforms. Officials have not responded to the report, but observers will watch for adjustments in the upcoming budget cycle.