Editor's Review

Those on official foreign trips will not be allowed to stay out for over a week.

President William Ruto has moved to reduce foreign trips for government officials.

Members of the National Executive will now be entitled to not more than 45 days trips abroad in a single year.

Further, even upon the approval of a trip, the official in question would not be out of the country for over seven days straight.

This is per a memo addressed to the Attorney General and the Cabinet by the Head of Public Service Felix Koskei.

The president has entrusted the Alfred Mutua-led Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assess and approve the officials foreign travel.

Ruto also suspended non-essential trips abroad.

President William Ruto returning to the country after a trip abroad.

A recent report by the Controller of Budget indicated that in nine months until March this year, high-ranking officials in the government had spent upward of Sh 14 billion in domestic and foreign travel.

The National Assembly and presidency were pointed at as the facets of the government that have spent a huge chunk of the monies. 

Reacting to the report, economist David Ndii, who chairs the Presidential Council of Economic Advisors, admitted the government was inessentially extravagant. 

He suggested that the government might not shun the globetrotting spree anytime soon.

While the state had argued that the trips are of great importance to the country, Ndii appeared to be of a different opinion.

"Government is wasteful. And this administration has an itchy feet problem," he said.

For a time now, foreign trips by government officials have been constituting the areas the exchequer splashes monies on.

The expenses are on bloated delegations, expensive flights, accommodation, and allowances.

The travels have been competing with other vital areas such as health and education for allocations. 

Concerned quarters had counselled the national executive to cut on its expenditure in the face of how dismally the economy has been doing.