To my knowledge of government rules and regulations, it was administratively agreed, after the 1982 attempted coup, foreign travel by VIPs had a serious element of national security.
That was the thinking then.
It was, therefore, decided at that time — during President Daniel Moi’s time — that there shall be a clearance certificate for VIPs to travel out of the country. This was to apply to the vice president, ministers, assistant ministers and permanent secretaries, as well as other departmental heads like the head of CID, NIS and even provincial commissioners.
Some officers were cleared at the table of the Head of Public Service but others, largely PSs and above, were cleared by the President. The Head of the Public Service could then say the President has authorised a trip for a particular purpose. There was a specification of purpose. This was because people cannot travel for the sake of it.
There was also the element of the nature of travel — private or official. When official, the government was to give you per diem and meet your travel expenses. If it was private, one would meet one's own cost. Those were all being done.
Maybe one can say that it is something that met its intention, coming soon after the disturbance and it is also normally emphasised during an election year. It was then important to check that so and so is travelling, what would be the benefits for the nation, if on public funds. For private trips, who cares?
I am not familiar with whether the rule has since been expunged from the government. I also don't know if the fellows who were blocked from travelling to Uganda didn’t have the documents. No one has said they were asked for them but did not provide them.
For me, the drama at the airport was not necessary. If they wanted to check, they would have held him for one hour. Five hours was too extended.
But I can tell you that DP William Ruto is patient. I want to appeal to Kenyans that we should embrace respect and tolerance for one another.
The beauty of a lady is in the eyes of the beholder. I want to underline the issue of respect, and when I say respect, I mean for each other and for the laws of the country, including by the government itself. If there is a rule that travel needs clearance, let us respect it. It may look outrageous but it is there. For the government, they need not hit a mosquito with a rungu.
The former State House Comptroller and Roads minister spoke to the Star
