President Uhuru Kenyatta spent Sh627m on state receptions, garden parties in six months

State House spent Sh627 million on State receptions, garden parties, beverages, gifts and other hospitality supplies in just six months.

This is slightly over one-third of all the spending on hospitality within all 49 departments of the national government.

At a time when Treasury Cabinet secretary is preaching austerity and cuts on unnecessary expenditure, the Controller of Budget has released a report showing colossal spending on non-key areas such as foreign travel and hospitality within the national government.

The domestic travel expenditure for six month across the national government's spending units was Sh2.5 billion, that on foreign travel was Sh1.5 billion, while that on hospitality was Sh1.7 billion.

Members of Parliament in both Houses spent Sh1 billion in mileage claims and travel allowances within the country in just six months.

The half-year expenditure means that the President's residence spent Sh100 million a month on hospitality and while the 418 MPs in both Houses of Parliament spent over Sh150 million each month on travel to their constituencies and for parliamentary retreats in luxury hotels in Mombasa and Naivasha.

According to the half-year report of Controller of Budget Agnes Odhiambo, the MPs spent Sh865 million on domestic travel, while the Parliamentary Service Commission, which is the administrative wing of Parliament, spent Sh184.5 million.

"This is attributed to travelling to the constituencies by the MPs," reads the report. The Foreign Affairs ministry where the President's budget for international trips is domiciled, also emerged as one of the highest spenders on foreign trips because the data shows the ministry spent Sh732.5 million.

State House, whose officials accompany the President, and which also caters for foreign travel for Deputy President William Ruto, spent Sh111 million on foreign trips.