National Government Expenditure on Foreign Travel in Kenya - FY 2023-2024

Government officials, including elected members of the executive and public servants in ministries and departments, travel abroad every year. 

In the Financial Year 2023/2024, the national government expenditure on foreign travel was Ksh 1.2 billion.^[1]

Quick Facts

1. Total government expenditure on foreign travel was Ksh 1.2 billion.
2. Approximately 77 countries were visited by government officials.
3. Tanzania was the most visited country, with 101 official visits, followed by the United States of America, which had 78 official visits.
4. The highest spending government sector was Public Administration and International Relations (PAIR), spending Ksh 482.5 million.

How much did the national government spend on foreign travel?

In the Financial Year 2023/2024, the total amount spent on foreign travel by the national government was Ksh 1.2 billion, distributed across government ministries and departments, but excluding foreign travel expenditure by county executives.

The highest spending sector was Public Administration and International Relations, spending Ksh 482.5 million.

Expenditure on foreign travel by other sectors were as follows:

1. General Economics and Commercial Affairs – Ksh 301.5 million
2. Governance, Justice, Law, and Order (GECA) – Ksh 213.7 million
3. Agriculture, Rural, and Urban Development – Ksh 69.99 million
4. Energy, Infrastructure and ICT (EIICT) – Ksh 50.4 million
5. Social Protection, Culture, and Recreation (SPCR) – Ksh 38.2 million
6. Environment Protection, Water, and Natural Resources (EPWNR) – Ksh 27.98 million
7. Health – Ksh 18.4 million
8. Education – Ksh 13.3 million

Which countries did government officials visit?

Government officials traveled to approximately 77 destinations worldwide. In Africa, they traveled mostly within East and Central Africa, followed by Southern Africa and a few nations in West Africa. The Sahel was largely avoided.

Overall, Tanzania was the most visited country, with 101 official visits from government officials. 

Outside Africa, the United States was the most visited country, with 78 official visits, followed by the United Arab Emirates, with 45 official visits. The United Kingdom received 25 visits, South Korea 22 visits, Italy 20 visits, and India 19 visits.

North America and Western Europe were the most visited travel destinations by government officials. Government executives largely avoided Eastern Europe, Russia, and the Middle East.

The chart below shows the number of times Kenyan government officials visited each destination.

How much was spent for each destination?

Foreign travel costs the taxpayers money in air tickets and per diems. We aggregated expenditure for each destination as shown in the chart below.

The highest foreign spending was to the United States, costing Ksh 179.6 million. Tanzania followed it at a cost of Ksh 122.9 million. 

Others include:

1. Italy – Ksh 107.1 million
2. United Arab Emirates – Ksh 106 million
3. Burundi – Ksh 72.3 million
4. Germany – Ksh 58.9 million
5. United Kingdom – Ksh 50 million

Foreign Travel expenditure by government ministries, state departments and agencies

The state department that spent the most on foreign travel was Diaspora Affairs, at Ksh 156.7 million. It was followed by the State Department of East African Community, at Ksh 151 million.

The list below provides a comprehensive breakdown of foreign travel expenditure by ministry and state department.

1. Diaspora Affairs – Ksh 156.7 million
2. State Department of EAC – Ksh 150.96 million
3. State Law Office – Ksh 124.9 million  
4. Office of the Deputy President – Ksh 116.2 million
5. State Department MSMEs – Ksh 69.4 million
6. Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission – Ksh 61.9 million
7. State Department Trade – Ksh 60.5 million
8. National Treasury – Ksh 60.4 million
9. Office of the President – Ksh 45.6 million
10. Public Service Commission – Ksh 36.4 million
11. State Department Petroleum – Ksh 29.1 million
12. State Department Crop Development – Ksh 27.7 million
13. Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary – Ksh 25 million  
14. State Department Livestock Development – Ksh 23.1 million
15. Commission on Administrative Justice – Ksh 22.6 million
16. State Department Public Health – Ksh 18.4 million
17. State Department Economic Planning – Ksh 17.2 million
18. State Department Housing and Urban Development – Ksh 15.9 million
19. State Department Gender – Ksh 14.6 million
20. State Department Culture and Heritage – Ksh 13.9 million
21. State Department Forestry – Ksh 13 million
22. State Department Parliamentary Affairs – Ksh 12.9 million
23. Gender and Equality Commission – Ksh 11.9 million
24. State Department Tourism – Ksh 11.7 million
25. State Department Higher Education – Ksh 11.3 million
26. State Department Youth Affairs – Ksh 10.4 million
27. State Department Blue Economy and Fisheries – 9.9 million
28. State Departments ASALS – Ksh 9.6 million
29. State Department Devolution – Ksh 8.8 million
30. State Department Public Service – Ksh 7.6 million
31. Registrar or Political Parties – Ksh 7.4 million
32. State Department Wildlife – Ksh 7.1 million
33. State Department Irrigation – Ksh 4.7 million
34. State Department Foreign Affairs – Ksh 4.1 million
35. State Department Broadcasting and Telecommunications – Ksh 4.1 million
36. State Department Water and Sanitation – Ksh 2.8 million
37. Kenya National Human Rights Commission – Ksh 2.8 million
38. State Department Cabinet Affairs – Ksh 2.6 million
39. State Department Investment Promotion – Ksh 2.2 million
40. State Department TVETs – Ksh 2 million
41. State Department Internal Security – Ksh 1.9 million
42. National Police Service – Ksh 1.9 million
43. Witness Protection Agency – Ksh 1.1 million
44. State Department Public Works – Ksh 901,495
45. State Department Roads – Ksh 360,000

See Also

1. County Governments Foreign Travel 2023/2024
2. Total pending bills by national and county government
3. National Government Expenditure on Education 2023/2024

References