The Kenyan government has suspended all non-essential travel for officials. The announcement has been met with widespread approval, with Senator Onyonka of Kisii expressing his delight and emphasizing the need to put a stop to reckless expenditure of public funds.
Senator Onyonka,in an interview, didn’t mince his words when he commended the government’s action.
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“This morning I’m actually very happy, I don’t know whether you can see my face. I’m glowing,” he said.
“This is the nonsense we need to stop in our country. This thing where we take public money and behave as if it’s money in our kitty, where you think you can travel just to go and have coffee in Dubai for a weekend.” He added.
![President William Ruto DP Rigathi Gachagua and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei during the Cabinet Secretaries Retreat at Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club. [Photo/Courtesy] Senator Onyonka](https://news.switchtv.ke/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/JXWk9kpTURBXy9mZWY0NjBiZjFmN2ZiNzU2YWRmMTdjZjQwNmZjYThkMy5qcGeSlQMACc0C6s0Bo5MFzQMWzQGu3gACoTAGoTEA.webp)
The Senator went further to highlight some startling examples of extravagance, saying, “Why would a government CS carry four women on a trip to go and attend sports? Why are we the way we are?”
The move comes at a crucial time when Kenya is grappling with high living costs and increased taxation, making it imperative for the government to be more prudent with public funds.
Onyonka pointed out that approximately Ksh. 42 billion a year was being squandered on travel expenses alone. “Why can’t we pay our ECDE teachers, nurses, and CECs?” he questioned.
“Taxes are being increased, we are overborrowing, we have surpassed every ceiling that we are supposed to maintain and control, and then we are busy spending public money just traveling the world.”
Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, in his announcement on yesterday, detailed the suspended activities, which include benchmarking and study visits, training sessions, capacity-building initiatives, research, academic meetings, symposia, conferences, general participation meetings, side events, showcase events, exhibitions, caucus, and association meetings.
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He also outlined restrictions on delegations accompanying top government officials on foreign trips.
According to Koskei, “Delegations involving both Cabinet and Principal Secretaries shall be restricted to a three-person limit.”
