Government ministries have been instructed to tighten spending on official travel after Head of Public Service Felix Koskei ordered Principal Secretaries and other senior officials to undertake foreign trips only when they are necessary and directly benefit the country. The directive is part of a broader effort to improve accountability, reduce unnecessary expenditure and ensure public resources are directed towards priority government programmes.
Koskei issued the instructions on Wednesday while chairing the monthly meeting of Principal Secretaries in Nairobi, where senior government officials assessed progress on key government commitments and agreed on measures to improve service delivery.
He said any travel outside the country should be limited to assignments that advance Kenya's national interests and contribute to the country's development agenda.
“I called for faster, disciplined implementation with measurable results and restricted official foreign travel to essential engagements that serve the national interest,” Koskei said in a statement.
Besides introducing tighter controls on foreign travel, the meeting examined progress made in implementing presidential directives, resolutions reached during previous meetings and commitments made at the Third National Executive Retreat.
Principal Secretaries were also briefed on the ongoing government payroll audit, the status of office accommodation for public institutions, the performance and recovery strategy of Kenya Airways and the country's security situation.
Koskei said the government expects decisions reached during such meetings to be translated into action through timely implementation and measurable outcomes.
He instructed accounting officers in ministries, departments and state agencies to intensify efforts to eliminate corruption, wasteful spending and operational inefficiencies.
“I instructed Accounting Officers to enforce measures against corruption, wastage and inefficiency,” he said.
He further directed government institutions to assign responsibility for every agreed action to specific officers, ensure implementation is completed within agreed timelines and regularly report on the progress made.
According to Koskei, the measures are meant to strengthen oversight, improve coordination across government and ensure public programmes are delivered as planned.
The new restrictions on foreign travel come as the government continues efforts to manage public expenditure and prioritise funding for programmes that directly benefit citizens.
The meeting also discussed ways of improving Kenya's economic competitiveness, attracting more investment and creating employment opportunities.
Officials agreed on a number of interventions aimed at supporting economic growth while protecting vulnerable members of society and preserving national stability.
Koskei said the government would maintain its focus on performance, accountability and prudent management of public resources to improve service delivery across all institutions.
He also called on ministries and state agencies to work within agreed timelines and ensure officers assigned specific responsibilities are held accountable for delivering results.
The monthly meeting serves as part of the government's coordination framework for monitoring implementation of presidential directives and reviewing commitments made across ministries and state agencies.
Discussions also included Kenya Airways' recovery plan as the government continues efforts to strengthen the national carrier and address operational challenges.
Koskei said implementation of the resolutions reached during the meeting would be closely monitored, with responsible officers expected to account for progress achieved.