Costly trips a mockery of State austerity talk
Travel by government officials has become a notorious avenue for the wastage of public funds. Indeed, many local and foreign visits by the officials hardly add any value. They are just a means through which officials line their pockets with huge allowances.
When President William Ruto came to power after the August 2022 General Election, he pledged austerity measures to cut unnecessary government spending. He should be disappointed with his administration as wastefulness has become its hallmark.
Austerity has ceased to have any meaning under his leadership, judging from the massive spending amid the harsh economic times that have forced the government to increase taxes and statutory deductions.
The latest revelation about government spending on travel is shocking. State officials ignored President Ruto’s directive on the need to restrict non-essential travel and blew a tidy Sh30 billion on lavish local and overseas trips.
Barely a fortnight after the presidential directive, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua splurged Sh16.5 million on a six-day trip to Brussels with his 32-member entourage. He would later lead another 21-member delegation to Germany on a two-day trip that cost taxpayers, Sh25.7 million. Another two-day trip to Dubai with 14 officials in two days, cost Sh10 million.
These are just a few examples, as there is much more spending on local and foreign trips by many other government officials. Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o has revealed how dozens of State institutions, including the President’s office, blatantly ignored Head of Public Service Felix Koskei’s memo on trips. This has cost the taxpayers a whopping Sh30 billion in the past 15 months. The huge delegations are just a conduit for the officials to reward themselves for the positions they hold.
This at a time when there is a shortage of classrooms for the Grade 9 transition and public hospitals have no drugs. President Ruto must wield the whip against these errant officials from the top to the bottom to ensure that taxpayers get value for money.
