Kenya’s government has banned public officials from taking non-essential trips abroad as part of efforts to cut spending.
The country’s Head of Public Service Felix Koskei on Monday said that the banned trips include benchmarking, study visits, trainings and travel related to research, capacity building and academic events.
Conferences, meetings of general participation, side events and caucus and association events are also among the events categorised as non-essential.
Mr Koskei directed government officials to participate in events in those categories virtually or ask diplomatic officials in host countries to attend.
According to local media, officials in the administration of President William Ruto spent Sh14 billion Kenyan shillings
($94m; £78m) on travel within the first nine months of Mr Ruto taking office.
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Mr Koskei said that “foreign travel will only be facilitated for engagements in which the government of Kenya’s participation is part of the fulfilment of state obligations” and in events involving “critical decisions impacting on the country’s position”.
He also capped the delegations of ministers and governors to three persons and said that they will only be allowed out of the country for a maximum of seven days per trip and 45 days per year.
He added that the delegations of the president, vice president and first lady will only comprise staff with a direct role in scheduled activities.