The government has officially unveiled a system to track, manage and control foreign travel by all public officers to streamline the process.

In a statement on Monday, September 2, 2024, Public Service cabinet secretary Justin Muturi said the Foreign Travel Information Management System (FOTIMS) is set to bring transparency and accountability in the travels by public officers.

“Earlier today, I joined His Excellency Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua at the KICC in Nairobi for the official launch of two groundbreaking digital platforms: the Foreign Travel Information Management System (FoTIMS) and the Presidential Directives Management Information System (PDMIS). These innovative solutions underscore our government’s dedication to improving service delivery through digital transformation,” Muturi said.

Gachagua noted that the new system would usher in a new era which would rid the process of obtaining clearance for foreign travel of ambiguities.

“FOTIMS enhances application, processing and approval of foreign travel for public servants. Importantly, it ensures prudent use of public resources and accountability for expenses incurred during the travels,” he said.

This comes amid austerity measures set by President William Ruto to reduce the costs incurred by public servants’ foreign travel.

Between 2022 and 2023, the government spent Ksh6 billion on foreign travel and Ksh12 billion on domestic trips.

Controlling foreign travel

In a raft of measures to cut down unnecessary trips, the head of public service Felix Koskei directed that senior public officers intending to travel would have to request the president for authorisation through the public service.

Similarly, Koskei noted that a cabinet secretary and the principal secretary will not be out of the country at the same time.

He also slashed the delegation of travelling public officers to not more than four relevant officers. The new directive bars personal assistants and security personnel from accompanying senior public officials during the foreign trips.

Koskei also noted that CSs, PSs, chairpersons and heads of state corporations will have their foreign travels capped at 45 days per year, with the travels limited to not more than 15 days in a given quarter.

The new measures also highlighted that the Foreign Affairs Ministry would advise the public service on the importance of the foreign trips suggested by officials intending to travel.

The government also indicated that international conferences will be virtually attended and that the only benchmarking trips allowed would be those associated with specific policy reforms in the finalisation stages.