County governments have come under fresh scrutiny after a new report by Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o exposed how MCAs, governors and other officials spent over Sh1 billion on foreign trips within the first nine months of the 2024/2025 financial year.

The report details how county bosses used public funds to attend conferences, trainings and benchmarking tours abroad, even as development projects remain stalled and residents continue to face tough economic conditions.

Nairobi County recorded the highest expenditure on foreign travel, with officials and MCAs spending Sh229.79 million. Despite President William Ruto’s directive in July 2024 for all government units to cut costs and practice financial discipline, Nairobi officials continued with costly trips across different cities and countries.

The Controller of Budget questioned the necessity of holding meetings and trainings in foreign countries. “There is a lot of wastage by counties through unnecessary foreign trips. Some of the meetings held in foreign countries can be held here in Nairobi or elsewhere locally.”

In northeastern Kenya, Garissa County spent Sh5.7 million on trips to Britain and Dubai for trainings and meetings.

Tana River County recorded Sh22.41 million in foreign travel, including Sh6.4 million for four officials who attended a peace forum in Switzerland. Marsabit County spent Sh13.3 million, while Mandera, Wajir and Isiolo were not mentioned in the report.

From the coastal region, Machakos County spent Sh82 million, with the report showing that Governor Wavinya Ndeti’s administration spent Sh88.22 million on foreign leadership workshops and trainings.

Five county officials used Sh9.7 million to attend a Livestock and Food Security Initiative Conference in Brazil in December 2024. Two other officials travelled to Albania and Brazil between December and February, spending Sh1.8 million on women political leadership and open governance workshops.

Lamu officials and MCAs used Sh76.09 million attending trips in Dubai, France and Tanzania. Kitui County recorded Sh66.38 million in foreign travel expenses, while Mombasa County spent Sh59.8 million.

In Nakuru County, MCAs and county officials used Sh57 million on trips to Singapore, Dubai, London and Arusha. One county official spent Sh509,292 between November 18 and 29, 2024 attending an IFMIS training in Arusha. The Controller of Budget questioned why such training could not have taken place in Nairobi.

Kisumu County spent Sh51.18 million, with officials travelling to countries including Egypt, Malaysia, the USA and Mauritania. One official spent Sh759,565 in a trip to Mauritania between June 1 and 5, 2024. Four county assembly officials used Sh636,480 to attend a cultural event in Lira, Uganda.

Baringo MCAs and assembly officials spent Sh19.1 million between September 2024 and March 2025. Eight MCAs attended a digital conference in Rwanda in September, spending Sh2.4 million.

Ten others flew to Rwanda in November for a peace and conflict resolution workshop, spending Sh3.5 million. In the same period, 14 county assembly officials spent Sh4 million attending political and leadership trainings.

In Bomet County, officials used Sh25.02 million on trips abroad. One official spent Sh992,662 in the UK in September 2024 on a pyrethrum revival meeting. Between November 1 and 9, twelve officials attended a UN-Habitat session in Cairo, Egypt, spending Sh7.3 million.

Another group of 17 officials used Sh10.8 million in February 2025 travelling to India for the Surajkund International Crafts Mela.

In Bungoma, the county spent Sh35.62 million on travel, including Sh3 million used by six officials attending a rain harvesting workshop in China. Fourteen others spent Sh6 million on a governance workshop in Dubai.

Busia sent two officials to the 79th UN General Assembly in New York, where they spent Sh1.8 million. On March 10, 2025, eight more officials travelled to Cape Town, South Africa, for a governance summit that cost Sh6.7 million.

Elgeyo Marakwet County recorded Sh18.5 million in foreign travel, including Sh4.4 million used by 14 assembly officials who went to Arusha between October 7 and 12, 2024 for a benchmarking visit to the East African Legislative Assembly.

In Embu County, Sh16.35 million was spent on travel. Three officials from Governor Cecily Mbarire’s administration travelled to Baku, Azerbaijan, for COP29 and spent Sh3 million.

Kakamega County spent Sh22.6 million on trips to Washington DC, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania and Malaysia. The Controller of Budget noted that figures submitted by the county treasury and county assembly did not match those in the actual expenditure report.

In Kericho, county officials and MCAs spent Sh10.2 million, including Sh1.2 million used by Governor Erick Mutai’s office to attend a consultative meeting in Uganda. Two public service board officials were also in San Francisco between June 10 and 19, 2024 at the height of Gen Z-led protests, for discussions and presentations.

Kiambu County recorded Sh35.9 million in trips to Dubai, Arusha and Kampala. Kisii County spent Sh23.8 million on similar travel during the financial year.

Kwale County recorded Sh12.77 million in study tours and benchmarking trips to Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Ethiopia and Dubai. Laikipia officials and MCAs spent Sh38.99 million in Uganda, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

Other counties with high travel expenses include Nyeri (Sh55.61 million), Meru (Sh25.5 million), Samburu (Sh38.65 million), Nyandarua (Sh20.75 million), West Pokot (Sh16.34 million), Narok (Sh13.85 million), Trans Nzoia (Sh13.06 million), Migori (Sh6.4 million) and Nandi (Sh44.97 million).

According to both the Controller of Budget and the Auditor-General, most counties have stalled on development due to unnecessary spending on travel and bloated wage bills. They have called on county governments to reduce personal benefits, increase their revenue collections, automate payrolls, and prioritise timely submission of financial reports.