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Foreign travel ban set to save State Sh200m
Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka (left) and a US State Department official (right) during his visit to the US last month. The government could save Sh200 million during a 30-day foreign travel ban imposed on Cabinet ministers. Photo/FILE
Posted Wednesday, March 10 2010 at 21:11
The government could save Sh200 million during a 30-day foreign travel ban imposed on Cabinet ministers.
More than 30 ministers were scheduled to travel abroad in March and April before President Kibaki slapped the ban to ensure they were present in the country to debate the proposed constitution.
All MPs, including ministers, will be in Naivasha today to discuss the proposed law before debate starts in Parliament next week.
The savings estimate is based on the figure of Sh6.7 million a day that ministers and their entourages spend on foreign trips.
This estimate was given in 2007 by then Finance minister Amos Kimunya.
Investigations by Nation showed that Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Cabinet ministers Najib Balala, Moses Wetang’ula, Anyang’ Nyong’o, Amos Kimunya, Dalmas Otieno, Henry Kosgey, Sam Ongeri, Sally Kosgei, Samuel Poghisio, Soita Shitanda, James Orengo and Charity Ngilu were to travel either this month or April.
Other ministers who had been expected out of the country on various dates from Monday to the end of April are Naomi Shaban, Wycliffe Oparanya, William ole Ntimama, Jefferson Kingi, Noah Wekesa, Mutula Kilonzo, Hellen Sambili, Esther Murugi, Robinson Githae, Mohammed Elmi and John Michuki.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka’s foreign trips schedule could not be obtained.
President Kibaki banned all foreign trips until debate on the proposed constitution was concluded.
The decision to ban foreign travel was communicated to ministers in a letter from Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura.
“During this time when Parliament is considering the draft constitution, ministers and assistant ministers will not be allowed to travel outside the country so that they are available for parliamentary debate on the constitution,” Mr Muthaura said in the letter.
Parliament has 30 days during which MPs should have debated and voted on the draft. According to the timetable, the House has until April 2 to conclude the debate.
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Submitted by iko711Posted March 11, 2010 01:23 PM
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Submitted by ruiruark
The ban should be permanent so that these funds are used for more urgent issues like resettling IDP`S and squatters scattered all over the country.
Posted March 11, 2010 12:42 PM -
Submitted by Zackykip
These Jockers spend two hundred million going everywhere they can think of to obtain 500 million Aid that we will have to pay through our noses! Kenya has a lot of Money and really dont need aid. If 200M can be saved in only one month, that translates to more than a billion in a year!
Posted March 11, 2010 04:50 AM -
Submitted by jdagoo24
its a pity to the poor KENYANS suffering while their so called leaders are having all the fun....
Posted March 11, 2010 03:07 AM -
Submitted by MichaOlga
Hahahahaha....Kaching! I hear coins being tossed into the country's development vaults where they belong. Hope with this the government will look into the building of roads and fixing old worn ones.
Posted March 11, 2010 12:07 AM
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It doesn't make any sense financially because they'll just reschedule these trips to later dates, probably with compensation