President William Ruto has issued a directive limiting overseas travel for the members of his Executive to 45 days annually.
In a statement, State House Public Communications Director Gerald Bitok confirmed the policy change, stating officials will not be allowed to spend more than 7 consecutive days outside the country.
He added that permission for foreign travel ought to be obtained from the Office of the President. Executives will also have to copy the requests to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which will provide an advisory on the necessity of a particular travel.
According to the new advisory, any delegation headed by a Cabinet Secretary will not exceed four people, inclusive of the CS as the leader of the delegation
On the other hand, a delegation headed by a Principal Secretary, Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS), or Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will also not exceed four people.
Furthermore, their travel clearance applications will be submitted to the Office of the President by the respective CS.
Going forward, government officials will also be required to include the full list of agency officials forming part of the delegation, as well as the total cost for the travel. This directive aims to ensure the efficient utilisation of government resources.
Ruto's firm directive stipulated that travel clearance applications must be submitted no later than seven working days before the scheduled travel date.
This move aligns with the Head of State's commitment to implement austerity measures aimed at cost-saving, as outlined in his manifesto. These measures include reducing the acquisition of motor vehicles and restricting government officials' training to essential requirements.
Critics had raised concerns over the Kenya Kwanza administration's escalated expenditure on travel. Notably, the President's personal travel history since assuming office on September 13, 2022, revealed over 25 international trips, incurring an average cost of Ksh88 million during his initial six months.
In his response to the criticism, the President defended the necessity of these trips, citing their potential to generate employment opportunities for Kenyans.
"We need one million jobs for Kenyans who are working abroad. Many Kenyans ask why I am travelling to the US, Canada and Europe. I am going out there to enter into agreements with other countries."
"All those presidents are telling me that they want Kenyans because we are known for our skills and hard work," Ruto stated on July 1, 2023.
