A new government spending review has raised fresh concern after revealing that billions of shillings were spent on travel within six months, even as measures to reduce unnecessary costs remain in place.
The Controller of Budget, Margaret Nyakang’o, in a report covering the period between July 1 and December 31, 2025, pointed to high spending on both local and international trips across government offices.
The findings show that the Executive Office of the President used Sh768.5 million on local travel and Sh1.165 billion on foreign trips during the review period.
According to the report, overall spending on travel reached Sh7.74 billion for domestic movement and Sh3.13 billion for foreign trips. The figures were flagged as being out of line with government plans to reduce spending, particularly on activities considered non-essential.
“Travel cost comprises Sh7.74 billion and Sh3.13 billion for domestic and foreign expenditure, respectively, which is against the 2025 Budget Policy Statement theme on expenditure reforms to cut non-essential expenses,” Nyakang’o said.
The concerns come as Parliament reviews documents showing that more public funds will be needed to support additional trips by the president. It is projected that taxpayers will spend another Sh3.1 billion to facilitate upcoming foreign visits by William Ruto before the financial year ends.
The State Department for Foreign Affairs has already been tasked with preparing for 11 trips abroad within the remaining months up to June 30.
While appearing before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei said the department has already spent more than what was allocated for such travel. He disclosed that Sh2.2 billion has been used against a budget of Sh1.8 billion for state visits.
If the planned trips are carried out, the total cost is expected to rise sharply to Sh5.3 billion, going far beyond the approved budget.
“To date, the State Department has spent Sh2.2 billion of the Sh1.8 billion allocated for state visits. Further, the department has been instructed to prepare and facilitate an additional 11 outbound visits by June 2026 at a cost of Sh3.1 billion,” Sing’Oei said.
He addressed the committee led by Belgut MP Nelson Koech while responding to questions on the department’s funding under Supplementary Budget No 1 for 2025/26.
Sing’Oei also noted that the department is facing a funding gap of Sh3.5 billion, which will require support from the National Treasury to ensure the planned travel is executed.
“A special intervention is needed to cover the unfunded budget gaps, both in recurrent and development votes, as part of the Supplementary Estimates No 1 for 2025/26,” he explained.
Meanwhile, a report from State House presented in Parliament details the president’s travel record, showing that between October 31, 2024, and September 22, 2025, he undertook 24 regional and international visits. During the same period, Kenya hosted 10 visiting heads of state and government, including five official state visits.
The document, titled Progress Made in Fulfilling the International Obligations of the Republic of Kenya, further shows that the president took part in 19 international conferences.
Even though there has been a drop in foreign travel compared to earlier periods, records show that 31 trips were made between July 2023 and June 2024, and 28 foreign capitals were visited between July 2022 and June 2024. Out of the 31 trips recorded in 2023/24, only nine were official state visits, with the rest linked to meetings, conferences, and other engagements.
In July 2024, Ruto issued a directive stopping non-essential travel and reducing the size of official delegations. The directive followed countrywide protests led by Gen Zs over tax proposals in the Finance Bill, 2024.
