Government, counties agree on guidelines to slash foreign travel

Deputy President William Ruto (left) with Council of Governors chairman Isaac Ruto and Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru address the Press after a meeting of Inter Governmental Budget and Economic council in Karen, Nairobi. [PHOTO: DPPS]

Nairobi, Kenya: New guidelines will soon be issued to curb unnecessary foreign trips by officials of both the national and county governments, following public outcry over lavish spending on such trips.

The decision to issue the guidelines was reached after a meeting of the national and county governments led by Deputy President William Ruto yesterday in the wake of concerns about globe-trotting Members of County Assemblies and MPs.

"There is need for prudent management of public resources and one of the ways to do so this is to regulate travels to avoid wastage," said the Deputy President after the meeting at his official residence in Karen, Nairobi.

"We have agreed about the need for policy guidelines and standards for all foreign travels for both national and county government staff so that proper and prudent use of public funds in relation to foreign travels is achieved," he added.

In attendance were Council of Governors Chairperson and Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto, 12 governors and officials of the ministries of Devolution and Treasury.

"There is need for a framework to put a ceiling on expenditure on travel because unregulated trips by government officials are posing a serious threat to good management of public funds," Governor Ruto said.

The decision to issue fresh regulations came amid reports by the Auditor General that officials of the county assemblies were spending millions of shillings on lavish foreign trips.

Many Kenyans are also hoping that comprehensive audits on foreign travel expenses will also be extended to national government officials, many of who are believed to squander millions of shillings annually on travel and per diems.

During the meeting called under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council, it was agreed the new travel regulations should set the limit on the amount of money to be spent by officials of both the national and county government.

Each county will also have a ceiling on the money spent on foreign travels. It was then agreed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will issue new guidelines to regulate all foreign travel.

To ensure total compliance to the new regulations, it was agreed that the Senate shall be called upon to formulate laws that provide a clear legal framework that guides all matters of devolution including foreign travel.

"We will engage the Senate collectively to ensure that it provides a robust legal framework to give county governments latitude to implement and facilitate devolution in the country," said the Deputy President.

During the meeting the Transition Authority was directed to finalise its audit of all assets and liabilities held by the defunct local authorities in preparation for their transfer to county governments.

"In the next 60 days the Transition Authority will conduct an audit of assets and liabilities that belonged to the defunct local authorities and work out the modalities of transferring them to the county governments," said the Deputy President.

This audit had been promised a year ago by the TA, and delay in doing the exercise has attracted strong criticism.