Conferences, benchmarking: Shock as counties splurge Sh16bn on travel in a year

Governors, MCAs and county officials spent more than Sh16.2 billion on domestic and foreign trips in a single year, a new report has revealed.

 The latest county expenditure review by Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o shows that officials undertook costly benchmarking tours, conferences and workshops both locally and abroad during the year ending June 30, 2025.

 Within Africa, the favoured destinations were Tanzania, Uganda and South Africa, while Dubai, Singapore, the United States, the Netherlands, France and Japan.

 The report, released on Wednesday, shows that domestic travel accounted for Sh14.22 billion, while Sh2.01 billion was spent on foreign trips.

 The findings are expected to reignite debate over county bosses’ lavish spending habits, with governors once again under scrutiny for extravagance and waste.

 According to the report, Nairobi, Machakos, Turkana, Tana River, Kitui, Kakamega and West Pokot spent over half a billion each on both domestic and foreign travel.

 Nairobi spent Sh863.3 million, the highest spender on travel among the 47 devolved units over the period.

 Some 13 employees of the county travelled to Dubai, UAE, to attend a certified cybersecurity training. They spent Sh28.43 million.

 The county spent Sh23.40 million to ferry 25 members of the Nairobi Revenue Authority to Malaysia for revenue automation, innovation and tax governance.

 Machakos county officials blew Sh631.2 million on local and foreign travels.

 Five members of the Machakos county executive attended the Livestock and Food Security Initiative Conference in Brazil. They spent Sh9.65 million.

 In a separate trip, one official was paid Sh8.16 million who attended a fire emergency response workshop in the UK.

 In addition, some 14 MCAs attended a capacity-building tour at the East African Legislative Assembly in Arusha, Tanzania. They spent Sh3.55 million.

 Another group of six MCAs attended a leadership training programme on good governance and Visionary Leadership for National Development in Singapore. They spent Sh3.29 million.

 The report reveals that Kitui spent Sh609.17 million, Turkana splurged Sh623.38 million and Tana River spent Sh620.22 million on travel.

 Also flagged are West Pokot (Sh539.77 million), Nakuru (Sh571.97 million), Kakamega (Sh525 million), Narok (Sh465.07 million), Meru (Sh492.29 million), Kajiado (Sh427.02 million) and Nyandarua (Sh404.14 million).

 West Pokot spent over Sh8.4 million to transport and accommodate 14 MCAs in Dubai, where they attended the Leadership and Excellence Programme in Dubai.

 In addition, two officers attended a capacity-building training for County Executive Members. They spent Sh8.92 million.

 Four other MCs attended the Leadership and Excellence Programme in Malaysia. They spent Sh2.68 million.

 Other top spenders on travel are Murang’a (Sh428.28 million), Meru (Sh492.29 million), Samburu (Sh403.87 million), Kiambu (Sh382.29 million), Migori (Sh341.38 million), Nandi (Sh331.3 million) and Nyeri (Sh404.4 million).

 The least spenders on travel are Makueni (Sh48.48 million), Isiolo (Sh137.84 million), Elgeyo Marakwet (Sh151.56 million), Kwale (Sh144.6 million), Mandera (Sh169.51 million) and Nyamira (Sh186.37 million).

 In 2023, President William Ruto, through a memo by the Head of Public Service in June 2023, gave conditions for travel, capping delegation sizes and timelines.

 Governors were allowed a maximum of three people, including themselves, while state corporation CEOs and board chairs are only allowed to travel alone.

 Only the Deputy President and the Prime Cabinet Secretary were allowed to travel with personal assistants.

 The circular also provided that government officials would only be granted a maximum of seven days per travel, 15 days per quarter and 45 days in a year.

 In October 2023, the government in another memo suspended benchmarking and study visits, trainings and conferences.

 Meetings of general participation, symposia, exhibitions and association meetings were also banned.

 INSTANT ANALYSIS

 The County Governments Budget Implementation Review Report for 2025 paints a picture of devolved units struggling to enforce government rules. The detailed breakdown of travel costs serves as a powerful testament to the challenges of curbing wasteful expenditure in the public sector. The report presents a critical test of accountability. It remains to be seen whether those who authorised the defiance of a presidential directive and use of public funds will face any consequences, or if the cycle of extravagant spending will continue unabated.