BILLION DOLLAR JOURNEYS: CONTROLLER OF BUDGET FLAGS EYE-WATERING KES 9.5B TRAVEL EXPENSES

Controller of budget Margaret Nyakango has stated that the country is in danger of going into turmoil if the government doesn't tame it's expenditure on foreign and domestic travel. Appearing before the national assembly on public debt and privatisation Margaret Nyakango sounded an alarm on wastage especially on travel and loan commitment fees.
The COB pointed out that travel alone has consumed more than ksh.9.4 billion this financial year alone theferefore reducing none essential expenditure will help reduce the budget deficit ultimately reducing the debt servicing burden.
Nyakango also noted that another avenue consuming tax payers money was commitment fees on loans despite there being poor readiness of projects and hapless utilisation of loans .In the first nine months of the financial year 2024/2025, Kenya paid KES 770.5 million as commitment fees.
These issues ,she says, add pressure to the debt servicing burden which if not addressed will lead the country to default on its obligation.