Kenya Gov't Bans Civil Servants from Traveling Abroad

The State House has cautioned all government officials against making foreign trips.

In a letter by State House Chief of Staff Joseph Kinyua, who is also the head of Civil Service, the State House told all Cabinet Secretaries, the Attorney General and Principal Secretaries that they will not be allowed to leave the country without clearance by the President.

“This is to notify you that it has been decided, until further advised otherwise, no government official will travel outside the country without clearance by the president,” Mr Kinyua says in the letter which is also copied to the Director of Immigration Gordon Kihalangwa.

“For avoidance of any doubt, the officials in reference include Cabinet secretaries, principal secretaries and officers in ministries, chief executive officers of parastatals and their officers and Board of Directors of parastatals,” the letter bearing September 13 date adds.

The move is seen as a policy by the government to curb foreign travel by its officers, who must get a nod from the head of Public Service to travel out of the country. It is not clear as to what could have informed the reminder at this time.

The letter, though not addressed to independent and constitutional commissions comes just a month after Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission commissioner Dr Roselyn Akombe was temporarily denied exit at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport because she had not been cleared by the head of Public Service. She was, however, allowed to travel later.