Government officials’ spent more than Sh11.1 billion on foreign trips and hospitality in the half-year to December, highlighting their renewed appetite for overseas tours following the easing of Covid-19 travel restrictions.
According to data from the Controller of Budget (CoB), the expenditure was a 42 per cent increase from Sh7.8 billion that was used between July and December 2020.
The Members of Parliament (MPs) had spent Sh70.17 million between July and December 2020 but increased this by over to Sh809.57 million in six months to December last year.
The National Assembly accounted for Sh1.96 billion on domestic travel, making MPs the heaviest spenders in that category.
Other big spenders were, State Department of Interior and Coordination Services accounted for Sh761.08 million, Judiciary with Sh341.32 million, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission at Sh307.62 million and Executive Office of the President at 244.78 million.
Spending on domestic travel rose 22 per cent to Sh5.97 billion while foreign travel costs were Sh2.88 billion, a 188 per cent increase from Sh1 billion spent in the previous similar period.
Hospitality spending, mainly on reception and entertainment of guests, hit Sh2.27 billion from Sh1.91 billion the previous year.
The increase in expenditure was highlighted by the impact of easing Covid-19 control measures such as resuming international flights due to Covid-19.
The historic-high spending on foreign trips came despite the Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani saying non-core travel for State officials remained suspended.
The Treasury has flagged foreign trips by top State officials as an example of wastage of public funds due to the huge delegations and high per diems.
It has struggled to cut non-core expenditure in the race to make savings and fund its programmes without relying too much on debt.
Critics have accused President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government of ramping up borrowing at a rate that will saddle future generations with too much debt. The government has defended the borrowing, saying it is required to fund infrastructure.