The Controller of Budget (CoB) has raised concerns over rising government expenditure on travel, revealing that Ksh10.8 billion was spent on both domestic and foreign trips within six months.
In her latest National Government Budget Implementation Review Report covering July to December 2025, Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o flagged the spending as excessive, noting that it contradicts the government’s stated commitment to austerity measures and reducing non-essential expenditure.
According to the report, domestic travel accounted for Ksh7.74 billion, while foreign travel stood at Ksh3.13 billion during the six-month period. Nyakang’o warned that the trend reflects continued overspending, despite clear policy direction under the 2025 Budget Policy Statement, which emphasised cutting unnecessary costs.
A closer look at the figures shows that the Executive Office of the President alone spent Ksh768.5 million on domestic travel and Ksh1.165 billion on foreign travel. The spending has raised questions about adherence to budget controls at a time when the government has been urging fiscal discipline.
The revelations come even as taxpayers are expected to shoulder an additional Ksh3.1 billion to facilitate upcoming foreign trips by President William Ruto before the end of the current financial year. Documents presented before Parliament indicate that the State Department for Foreign Affairs has been tasked with organising 11 outbound trips within the remaining period.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei told a parliamentary committee that the department has already spent Ksh2.2 billion on state visits, surpassing its allocated budget of Ksh1.8 billion by Ksh400 million. If the planned trips proceed, total expenditure could rise to Ksh5.3 billion, significantly exceeding the approved budget.
Sing’Oei further revealed that the department is currently facing a funding shortfall of Ksh3.5 billion, which will require intervention through supplementary budget allocations.
The report also highlights the scale of presidential travel in recent years. Between late 2024 and September 2025, President Ruto undertook 24 regional and international trips and hosted multiple heads of state. He also attended numerous global conferences, reflecting Kenya’s active engagement on the international stage.
However, the growing travel bill has sparked fresh debate on government spending priorities, especially at a time when Kenyans are grappling with a high cost of living and economic pressures.
Nyakang’o’s findings are expected to fuel calls for stricter oversight and accountability in public expenditure, particularly on travel, which remains one of the most scrutinised areas of government spending.
 has raised concerns over rising government expenditure on travel, revealing that Ksh10.8 billion was spent on both domestic and foreign trips within six months.){kind=link}