Ledama Olekina Blasts Governors Splurging Billions On Domestic Travels: "I'll Deal With You In 2024"

• Senator Ledama Olekina urged all senators to be lethal and push for the prosecution of governors accused of spending millions on local travel
• Ledama promised to deal with the rogue governors in 2024, hoping for the support of the judiciary in bringing the country to shape
• The Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang'o reported that governors spend more on domestic travel compared to development projects

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

Narok senator Ledama Olekina has pledged to rein in governors who have allegedly squandered billions of shillings on domestic travel since their election in the August 2022 polls.

The senator urged his colleagues to work together to hold county bosses accountable by prosecuting those found to be misappropriating public funds.

"These governors must be put to check! It is evil to spend billions of shillings on local transport when your people are languishing in poverty.

"As senators, we must now be lethal and push for these overnight billionaires to be prosecuted," he said.

In his bid to bring the country to shape, the Azimio politician prayed that the judiciary would remain impartial when the perpetrators who have left citizens languish in poverty are apprehended.

"I swear I will do whatever it takes in 2024 to deal with them. I know the judiciary will be fair," Ledama added.

How counties spent billions on local travels

In a report dated September 2023, the office of the Controller of Budget headed by Margaret Nyakang'o disclosed how counties spent hundreds of billions on local travel.

Turkana county topped the list with KSh 1144.6 million, followed closely by Migori and Bungoma counties with 894.3 million and KSh 696.2 million, respectively.

Vihiga county spent the least amount of KSh 79.1 million.

10 counties spent zero on development

In the first quarter of the 2023/24 financial year, Nyakang'o reported on December 19, that 10 counties including Nairobi spent zero on development projects.

Nairobi governor Johson Sakaja spent KSh 176 million on domestic travel in three months, KSh 51.8 million on fuel, KSh 28 million on hospitality and KSh 11.9 million on foreign trips.

Other counties that spent zero on development were Embu (Cecily Mbarire), Homa Bay (Gladys Wanga), Kericho (Eric Mutai), Kilifi (Gideon Mung'aro), Machakos (Wavinya Ndeti), Samburu (Jonathan Lati Leleliit), Turkana (Jeremiah Lomorukai), Wajir (Ahmed Abdullahi) and West Pokot (Simon Kachapin).

The county governments’ total expenditure from July 1 to September 1 amounted to KSh 67.47 billion where KSh 60.52 billion was channelled to recurrent activities (89.7%) and KSh 6.92 billion (10.3%) for development activities.