How Kenya Gov't Spent Sh492 Billion within Three Months

A new report prepared by the Controller of Budget shows that the government spent a whopping Sh492 billion within a period of three months.

The massive spending defies austerity measures announced by President Kenyatta and the National Treasury to curb wastage of public funds.

The report shows that a big chunk of the Sh492 billion was spent on payment of salaries and travel by state officers.

The Controller of Budget raises alarm on glaring inconsistencies on how taxpayers’ cash is being utilized by the national government in the report prepared between July 1st and September 30th, 2018.

For instance, public officers spent Sh2.9 billion within three months on travel, Sh1.7 billion going to local travel and Sh1.1 billion for foreign travel.

Members of Parliament were the highest spenders on travel, gobbling Sh669.9 million for local travel alone.

On international travel, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the top spender, using close to Sh500 million of taxpayers cash in the skies.

The huge foreign travel budget defies President Kenyatta directive on public officers to cease international trips as part of austerity measures to save billions of shillings. Kenyatta directed that all overseas trips must be approved after assessment of their benefit to the taxpayers.

During the period, the Ministry of Interior used a staggering Sh186 million on training while Sh199.8 million was spent on car maintenance. The Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i-led Ministry also spent a further Sh194.5 million as legal fees.

In addition to Sh500 million foreign travel budget, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spent Sh636 million on rent and Sh15 million on advertising.

Within the period under review, the government used Sh1.4 billion on renting houses and an additional Sh718 million on conferencing and catering.