A fresh report from the Budget Controller has laid bare the extent of wasteful spending by county governments, with travel expenses running into billions of shillings despite a freeze on non-essential trips. The findings raise concerns over financial prudence at the devolved units, with some governors presiding over ballooning travel budgets even as service delivery remains poor.
Leading the list of high spenders is Nairobi County, which recorded a staggering Kshs. 260.14 million on domestic travel alone. The County Assembly accounted for Kshs. 125 million, while the County Executive spent Kshs. 135.14 million. Additionally, Nairobi’s foreign travel expenses hit Kshs. 108.89 million, bringing the total expenditure on travel to nearly Kshs. 370 million in just six months.
Kakamega County followed closely, with travel expenses amounting to Kshs. 202.06 million for domestic trips, with Kshs. 136.13 million attributed to the County Assembly and Kshs. 65.93 million to the Executive. Foreign travel costs added another Kshs. 13.42 million to the tally.
Other counties with exorbitant travel budgets include Busia, which spent Kshs. 162.09 million on domestic travel and an additional Kshs. 27.77 million on foreign trips. Kajiado’s travel expenses totalled Kshs. 214.15 million, while Kisumu’s domestic travel spending reached Kshs. 173.33 million. Mombasa, Nakuru, Kericho, and Kisii counties also featured prominently in the report for their excessive spending.
Interestingly, some counties exhibited relatively lower foreign travel expenses, with Uasin Gishu reporting no expenditure on international trips. Mandera and Kericho similarly recorded modest figures compared to their counterparts.
The sharp rise in travel expenditure contradicts the government’s directive for fiscal restraint, particularly amid a tough economic climate where many counties struggle to pay salaries and finance development projects. Critics argue that these trips, often disguised as benchmarking exercises, yield little tangible benefit for county residents.
The revelations have sparked calls for enhanced oversight and accountability measures, with some questioning whether county executives are exploiting loopholes to justify unnecessary travel. Observers note that such extravagant spending continues unabated due to weak enforcement of budgetary controls.
Dr Margaret Nyakang’o, the Controller of Budget, has expressed concern over the pattern of excessive spending, calling for urgent action to rein in financial indiscipline within county governments. Her report has prompted fresh debate on the effectiveness of regulatory bodies in curbing wastage, even as county officials remain defiant in their spending habits.
