Ugenya MP David Ochieng has warned that the cost of local trips is unsustainable in the current economic situation in the country.

Speaking during a local TV interview on Monday, January 27, 2025, Ochieng lamented a worrying trend by the government of preaching austerity while displaying largesse.

“I have gone to some of these trips with the president. I just wish you could reduce them; When Kenyans are being told to tighten their belts, they should also see that you are reducing your trips. Averagely, every trip should be like Ksh40 million,” MP Ochieng said.

“Lifting those choppers off the ground and the retinue that goes with it two to three days before is a lot of money. If this could be reduced so that the president does most of the things from Nairobi, then Kenyans would say he is tightening his belt.”

Western region tour

This comes after President William Ruto concluded a trip to the western region of the country, where he pitched camp from January 19, 2025, to January 24, 2025.

During the trips, Ruto was accompanied by a host of government officials, legislators and Cabinet Secretaries who graced the public meetings wherever he went.

“I would want the government holistically to show Kenyans that everyone is austere and tightening their belts. Don’t ask Kenyans to tighten their belts while they see you every day posting largesse,” Ochieng added.

“When the president leaves State House, there are five to six choppers for CSs and government officials going with him; and that is quite a heavy investment.

The remarks come in the wake of sustained efforts to cut down on government spending by merging state corporations to provide efficiency.

Dissolved state corporations

On January 21, 2025, the government announced plans to dissolve nine state corporations and merge 42 into 20 as part of austerity measures.

“Nine State Corporations will be dissolved, with their functions transferred to relevant ministries or other State entities, while 16 corporations with outdated functions that can be provided by the private sector will be divested or dissolved,” the statement read in part.

“Six State Corporations will undergo restructuring to better align their mandates and enhance performance. Additionally, four public funds currently classified as State Corporations will be declassified and returned to the relevant ministries with a strengthened governance framework.”

Similarly, the state resolved that all professional organisations currently categorized as state corporations will also be declassified and will no longer receive government budgetary allocations.