Spending by MPs and Senators on foreign travel rose to Sh3.5 billion in the year ended June 2026, up from Sh2.6 billion a year earlier. This added more than Sh800 million to the cost of lawmakers’ overseas trips as the government faces mounting pressure to rein in public expenditure.
Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o said the National Assembly posted the highest expenditure on foreign travel at Sh2.53 billion, up from Sh1.99 billion in the previous financial year.
The Senate spent Sh924.35 million on international travel, including flights and accommodation, compared with Sh633.6 million a year earlier.
“The National Assembly recorded the highest expenditure on foreign travel at Sh2.53 billion, followed by the State Department for Foreign Affairs and the Senate at Sh2.22 billion and Sh924.35 million, respectively,” Dr Nyakang’o said.
Other notable foreign travel expenditures included the Parliamentary Joint Services at Sh384.46 million, the State Department for Diaspora Affairs at Sh271.87 million, and the State Department for Vocational and Technical Training at over Sh350 million.
Dr Nyakang’o noted that lawmakers also recorded the highest expenditure on domestic travel during the financial year.
Domestic travel accounted for a substantially larger Sh21.98 billion across the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), more than twice the amount spent on foreign travel of Sh8.7 billion.
The National Assembly recorded the highest expenditure at Sh4.37 billion, followed by State House at Sh2.4 billion and the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration at Sh1.43 billion.
Other significant spenders included the Judiciary at Sh1.24 billion, the Senate at Sh1.24 billion, the National Police Service at Sh411.11 million, the State Department for Lands and Physical Planning at Sh491.3 million, and the State Department for Mining at Sh504.39 million.
The Controller of Budget attributed the National Assembly’s high domestic travel expenditure to the nature of MPs’ work.
“For domestic travel, the National Assembly recorded the highest expenditure (Sh4.37 billion), attributed to the nature of the Members of Parliament’s work,” added Ms Nyakang’o.
The lawmakers’ travel costs come amid pressure on the government to contain public spending and improve fiscal discipline.
Recent directives by the National Treasury require ministries and agencies to cut unnecessary expenditures, such as trips abroad by officials and hospitality spending, to rein in a gaping fiscal deficit.
On June 29, 2023, the Treasury issued austerity guidelines to streamline foreign travel as it slashed allowances for official travel and banned non-essential lunch, tea and water for civil servants.
The guidelines on foreign travel cover key issues including travel conditions, delegation sizes, application procedures, and timelines.
