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During the Covid-19 pandemic, while Kenyans were under lockdown and travel restrictions, Nakuru County spent a staggering Sh253 million on domestic travel alone.

An Office of the Controller of Budget (CoB) report reveals the excessive amount spent on local travel during the 2020/21 financial year, raising concerns about fund allocation and management during a crisis.

The report highlights potential cases of wasteful spending by the previous administration of Governor Lee Kinyanjui with Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o pointing out the abnormal surge in expenses, suggesting potential mismanagement or wastefulness.

High expenditure

Since the global pandemic outbreak, governments worldwide had implemented travel restrictions to control the spread of the virus advising citizens to stay at home and travel only when necessary.

Nyakang’o states in the report, “The high expenditure of Sh253.88 million on local travel during the reporting period, was unexpected. This significant expenditure on local travel despite the restrictions may indicate possible wasteful spending.”

This came even as retired President, Uhuru Kenyatta directed the Treasury to reallocate all domestic and foreign travel budgets from county and national governments to combat Covid-19, aiming to consolidate funds for virus-related efforts.

Negative effects

During the same period, Nakuru County Assembly had just passed a Second Supplementary Appropriation Bill of Sh478 million to assist vulnerable residents manage the negative effects of Covid-19.

Additionally, a Special Budget Review Implementation Report on the Utilisation of Funds by County Governments towards Covid-19 interventions was presented to the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on the Covid-19 situation in Kenya, disclosing that Nakuru received Sh603 million from the national government.

According to the report, Nakuru County led in high expenditure, with Sh311.9 million, followed by Wajir at Sh255.3 million and Kiambu with Sh245.9 million.