MP's Question Ksh 5.3 Billion Spent On State Visits

The Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee has questioned the expenditure of Ksh 5.3 billion by the State Department for Foreign Affairs on State Visits during the 2025/2026 Financial Year.

The Committee, chaired by Belgut MP Nelson Koech, raised the concerns during a meeting held to review the State Department’s budget estimates for the 2026/2027 Financial Year.

Lagdera MP Abdikadir Mohamed challenged the expenditure, arguing that some of the costs associated with State Visits should have been catered for under the State House budget.

Officials from the State Department for Foreign Affairs, led by Ambassador Josphat Maikara on behalf of Principal Secretary Dr. Korir Sing’oei, defended the spending.

They explained that the department is mandated to facilitate logistical arrangements for both inbound and outbound State Visits once directives are received from the State House.

“On the state visits, we receive notices from the State House on planned visits. Ours is to facilitate accommodation, movement, and meals, while the State House caters for any other activities like advocacy.

We are not able to control the number of visits and their size. We use the money we have in the budget, and once that is exhausted, we borrow from other planned activities, and this becomes an outstanding bill within the year, but if the year ends, it becomes a pending bill,” said Senior Chief Finance Officer Mr. Aloyo.

The Committee heard that the State Department had already spent Ksh 2.2 billion against an allocation of Ksh 1.8 billion for State Visits in the current financial year.

Budget of Ksh 3.1 Billion

Additionally, the department has been instructed to facilitate 11 more outbound State Visits before June 2026 at an estimated cost of Ksh 3.1 billion.

The legislators also questioned proposed development expenditure allocations in the 2026/2027 budget estimates.

Particularly, Ksh 60.82 million is earmarked for the establishment of a Kenyan mission in Hanoi, Vietnam, despite no ambassadorial appointment having been made.

“In your budget books, there is Ksh 60.82 million for the establishment of a mission in Vietnam, yet no appointment has been made. What exactly is that allocation going to be used for?” posed Koech.

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Kenyan Missions In Vietnam

In response, Ambassador Maikara informed the Committee that the Cabinet had already approved the establishment of Kenyan missions in Hanoi, Vietnam, and Copenhagen, Denmark.

“I want to assure the Committee that the Cabinet approved the establishment of missions in Hanoi, Vietnam and Copenhagen, Denmark.

The 60 million is to help set up that mission in Vietnam, and we have already notified that country that we are setting up that mission,” he stated.

Mandera North MP and Committee Vice-Chairperson Bashir Abdullaih further directed the officials to submit a detailed breakdown of allocations to all foreign missions for scrutiny by the Committee.

The Committee was informed that the State Department for Foreign Affairs has received an additional allocation of Ksh 113.8 million in the 2026/2027 Estimates.

This increased its budget from Ksh 26.714 billion proposed in the Budget Policy Statement (BPS) to Ksh 26.828 billion.

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State Department For Diaspora Affairs

Meanwhile, Members also scrutinized the State Department for Diaspora Affairs over its request for an additional Ksh 639.4 million to support diaspora security and anti-human trafficking operations.

Baringo Central MP Joshua Kandie raised concerns over the increasing number of Kenyans falling victim to human trafficking and fraudulent overseas job recruitment schemes.

“Recently, there is an increase in cases of human trafficking. What measures have you taken to stop it before it occurs? Secondly, what are you doing to those agencies advertising fake job recruitments?” asked Kandie.

Responding to the concerns, Ambassador Hellen Gichuhi acknowledged the growing challenge of human trafficking and explained that the additional funds would support the establishment of safe houses, emergency evacuations and protection programmes for Kenyans living abroad.

“To curb cases of human trafficking, we are engaging a multi-agency approach involving the NIS, DCI, NEA and the State Department of Labour.

Cases Of Human Traffiking

We have also asked for funds for sensitization programmes across the country,” said Ambassador Gichuhi.

The State Department for Diaspora Affairs had requested Ksh 720 million for the interventions but has only been allocated Ksh 80.6 million, leaving a funding gap of Ksh 639.4 million.

Overall, the department has been allocated Ksh 817 million, reflecting a deficit of Ksh 27 million from the initial Ksh 844 million allocation proposed in the Budget Policy Statement.

Closing the session, Committee Chairperson Nelson Koech reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to ensuring Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) receive adequate funding to effectively execute their mandates.

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