Kenya’s counties spent over Sh16.2 billion on domestic and international travel in a single year, according to a recent report by the Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o.
The report reveals that governors, MCAs, and other county officials undertook costly benchmarking trips, workshops, and conferences both within the country and abroad during the year ending June 30, 2025.
Domestic travel accounted for Sh14.22 billion, while foreign trips cost Sh2.01 billion.
Within Africa, the top destinations were Tanzania, Uganda, and South Africa, while officials also travelled to Dubai, Singapore, the United States, the Netherlands, France, and Japan.
The findings are expected to intensify debates over county leaders’ spending habits, with governors once again under scrutiny for perceived extravagance. Nairobi, Machakos, Turkana, Tana River, Kitui, Kakamega, and West Pokot counties each spent more than half a billion shillings on travel.
Nairobi led all counties, spending Sh863.3 million. Some 13 county employees attended a certified cybersecurity training in Dubai at a cost of Sh28.43 million, while Sh23.40 million was spent transporting 25 Nairobi Revenue Authority staff to Malaysia for revenue automation, innovation, and tax governance training.
Machakos county recorded Sh631.2 million in travel expenses.
Five county executives attended the Livestock and Food Security Initiative Conference in Brazil at a cost of Sh9.65 million.
Separately, one official spent Sh8.16 million attending a fire emergency response workshop in the UK. Additionally, 14 MCAs participated in a capacity-building tour at the East African Legislative Assembly in Arusha, Tanzania, costing Sh3.55 million, while six others travelled to Singapore for a leadership and governance program at Sh3.29 million.
Other counties also recorded substantial expenditures. Kitui spent Sh609.17 million, Turkana Sh623.38 million, and Tana River Sh620.22 million.
West Pokot spent Sh539.77 million, including over Sh8.4 million for 14 MCAs to attend the Leadership and Excellence Programme in Dubai.
Nakuru spent Sh571.97 million, Kakamega Sh525 million, Narok Sh465.07 million, Meru Sh492.29 million, Kajiado Sh427.02 million, and Nyandarua Sh404.14 million.
The report highlights the heavy financial burden travel imposes on county budgets and is likely to renew calls for tighter oversight on public spending.
