Kenyan counties spent a staggering KSh 1.5 billion on domestic and foreign travel in the first three months of the financial year, a new report shows, raising sharp questions over fiscal priorities as essential citizen projects remain unfunded.

The latest Budget Implementation Review Report from Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang'o exposes a deep disconnect between expenditure and public welfare. It details how, between July and September 2025, vast sums were used for workshops and conferences while a shocking 20 counties recorded zero expenditure on development, stalling the promise of devolution for millions.

Kitui County, under the leadership of Governor Julius Malombe, emerged as the nation's highest spender, lavishing KSh 106.66 million entirely on domestic travel. The county's executive arm spent KSh 68.10 million, while its County Assembly used an additional KSh 38.57 million on local trips, with no foreign travel reported during the period.

Following closely was Kajiado County, which spent a combined KSh 93.47 million. The bulk, KSh 89.98 million, was on domestic travel, while its County Assembly also spent KSh 3.49 million on overseas workshops in Ghana, Singapore, and Russia.

Development Takes a Backseat

This travel expenditure contrasts sharply with a near-paralysis in capital investment. The report paints a grim picture, noting that counties collectively spent a paltry KSh 3.69 billion on development, an absorption rate of just 2% of the annual development budget. This figure represents a significant decline from the KSh 6.71 billion spent during the same period last year.

Dr. Nyakang'o warned that this trend undermines service delivery and public confidence. The Public Finance Management Act of 2012 legally requires counties to allocate at least 30% of their budgets to development—a threshold many are flagrantly disregarding.

The top travel spenders for the quarter include:

• Kitui County: KSh 106.66 million (Domestic)
• Kajiado County: KSh 93.47 million (Domestic & Foreign)
• Samburu County: KSh 77.24 million (Domestic)
• Kakamega County: KSh 87.18 million (Domestic & Foreign)
• Nyeri County: KSh 70.1 million (Domestic)

A Pattern of Misplaced Priorities

While officials in some counties travelled extensively, others showed significant restraint. Eight devolved units—Baringo, Garissa, Nairobi, Narok, Nyandarua, Siaya, Trans Nzoia, and Turkana—reported no expenditure on either domestic or foreign travel, highlighting a stark difference in fiscal discipline across the nation.

The Controller of Budget has advised county governments to urgently ramp up their spending on development projects for the remainder of the financial year. For the ordinary Kenyan in counties like Kitui and Kajiado, the pressing question remains when the millions spent on travel will translate into tangible services like clean water, accessible healthcare, and better roads.