State House tops as government splashes Sh42bn on travel, hospitality
A report by the Controller of Budget reveals that the Kenyan government spent over Sh42 billion on travel and hospitality in the 2025-26 financial year. This spending represents a significant increase from the previous year, drawing criticism amid ongoing economic hardship for taxpayers.
Why it matters
The high expenditure on non-essential items contradicts government austerity promises and highlights concerns regarding fiscal responsibility and public fund management.
State House, the Interior Ministry and Parliament have emerged as top spenders as the government splashed more than Sh42.41 billion on travel and hospitality in a year.
The spending exposes the gap between the government’s austerity promises and its continued appetite for non-essential expenditure at a time when taxpayers face tough economic times.
According to Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o’s report on government spending for the 2025-26 financial year, the state spent Sh30.69 billion on domestic and foreign travel.
Another Sh11.72 billion was spent on hospitality – largely tea and refreshments – during the period.
Foreign travel accounted for Sh8.71 billion while Sh21.98 billion was spent on domestic travel.
The spending represents a significant increase from the Sh25.45 billion incurred in the 2024-25 financial year.
Of this, Sh18.05 billion went to domestic travel and Sh7.40 billion to foreign travel.
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