Kenyan counties spent more than KES 1.5 billion on domestic and foreign travel in the first three months of the 2025/26 financial year, a new report by the Controller of Budget, Margaret Nyakang’o, has revealed. The staggering expenditure occurred even as 20 counties recorded zero spending on development projects, raising sharp questions about the priorities of devolved governments.

The County Governments Budget Implementation Review Report, covering the period from July to September 2025, paints a grim picture of fiscal indiscipline. While county officials and MCAs embarked on trips, critical services and new projects—from water pans to health clinics—remained unfunded, effectively stalling the promise of devolution for millions of Kenyans.

Top Spenders and Questionable Priorities

The report highlights a troubling pattern of high recurrent expenditure at the expense of capital investment. Among the highest spenders on travel were Kitui, Kajiado, and Kakamega counties. Kitui led the pack, spending over KES 106 million on domestic travel alone, split between the county executive and the assembly. Kajiado followed with KES 89.9 million on local travel and an additional KES 3.49 million on foreign trips.

This spending spree on travel and allowances contrasts sharply with the paralysis in development. The Controller of Budget noted that counties collectively spent a paltry KES 3.69 billion on development, an absorption rate of just 2% of the annual development budget. This figure is a significant decline from the KES 6.71 billion spent during the same period in the previous financial year.

A Pattern of Neglect

The report identified 20 counties that failed to spend any money on development projects, including major economic hubs like Mombasa, Kisumu, and Uasin Gishu. This means that for the entire quarter, no new roads, markets, or health facilities were initiated in these regions, despite budgets being allocated.

Dr. Nyakang'o issued a stark warning, advising counties to urgently increase their spending on development for the remainder of the financial year. The Public Finance Management Act of 2012 requires counties to allocate at least 30% of their budgets to development, a threshold many are failing to meet. Analysts have long warned that unchecked recurrent spending on items like travel erodes public trust and undermines the core goals of devolution.

• Total Travel Bill: Over KES 1.5 billion in Q1.
• Top Spenders: Kitui (KES 106M+), Kajiado (KES 93M+), Kakamega (KES 87M+).
• Development Spending: A mere 2% absorption rate across all 47 counties.
• Zero Development Spending: 20 counties, including Mombasa, Kisumu, and Bungoma, spent nothing on new projects.

As Kenyans grapple with a high cost of living, the focus now shifts to county assemblies and governors. They face mounting pressure to justify the expensive trips and demonstrate how these expenditures benefit the citizens who ultimately foot the bill. The Controller of Budget's report serves as a critical tool for accountability, empowering citizens to demand that their money is used for tangible progress, not just endless journeys.