Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang'o has expressed concern over excessive travel expenditure by Kenyan counties, which totaled Ksh.17 billion in the last financial year. According to the Budget Implementation Review Report, the 47 devolved units spent a significant amount on foreign and local travel, with county sheriffs taking the largest share of the budget. The report highlights wastage and plunder by counties, with Nyakang'o pointing a finger at excessive travel by county governments and assemblies.
Nairobi County led in travel expenditure, spending Ksh.850 million, followed by Narok County with Ksh.758 million, Nakuru with Ksh.655 million, Samburu with Ksh.614 million, and Tana River with Ksh.579 million. The preferred destinations for county officials included Dubai, Singapore, New York, Dodoma, and London, where they attended events such as training on transformative leadership and benchmarking on best leadership practices. Nyakang'o flagged some of the reasons for the travel, citing wastage and suggesting that some events could have been held locally.
The national government, which receives over eight times more of the budget allocated to counties, spent Ksh.25 billion on travel during the same period. In contrast, county governments reported outstanding trade payables, also known as pending bills, of Ksh.172 billion as of June 30, 2026. Suppliers have been urging payment for their services, with the highest reported balances in Nairobi City at Ksh.86.90 billion, accounting for over half of the burden.
Kilifi, Kiambu, and Machakos counties also reported significant pending bills, with Ksh.8.15 billion, Ksh.5.80 billion, and Ksh.4.49 billion, respectively. Despite these challenges, some counties have demonstrated strong revenue collection, with Mombasa County surpassing Nairobi County in own-source revenue collections. Mombasa topped the list with Ksh.21.1 billion, followed by Nairobi at Ksh.15.5 billion, Kiambu at Ksh.6 billion, Nakuru at Ksh.5.3 billion, and Narok at Ksh.4.4 billion.
The Controller of Budget's report highlights the need for counties to manage their finances effectively and prioritize spending. The excessive travel expenditure and pending bills have raised concerns about the efficiency of county governments and assemblies. Nyakang'o's report emphasizes the importance of prudent financial management to ensure that public funds are used effectively.
The Budget Implementation Review Report provides a detailed analysis of county governments' spending and revenue collection. The report shows that counties have significant challenges in managing their finances, including excessive travel expenditure and outstanding trade payables. The Controller of Budget's office will continue to monitor county governments' spending and provide guidance on financial management.
The issue of pending bills and excessive travel expenditure by counties is likely to continue to be a topic of discussion in the coming days. Stakeholders, including suppliers and residents, are expected to push for greater accountability and transparency in county governments' spending. The Controller of Budget's report serves as a reminder of the need for counties to prioritize spending and manage their finances effectively.
Key points
- Kenyan counties spent Ksh.17 billion on travel in the last financial year.
- County governments have pending bills of Ksh.172 billion as of June 30, 2026.
- Mombasa County topped the list in own-source revenue collections with Ksh.21.1 billion.
