The National Assembly Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee has questioned the expenditure of Sh5.3 billion by the State Department for Foreign Affairs on State Visits during the 2025/2026 Financial Year.
The Committee, chaired by Nelson Koech, raised the concerns during a meeting held to review the State Department’s budget estimates for the 2026/2027 Financial Year.
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.
The Committee heard that the State Department had already spent Sh2.2 billion against an allocation of Sh1.8 billion for State Visits in the current financial year.
Additionally, the department has been instructed to facilitate 11 more outbound State Visits before June 2026 at an estimated cost of Sh3.1 billion.
Officials from the State Department for Foreign Affairs, led by Ambassador Josphat Maikara on behalf of Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei, defended the spending.
“On the state visits, we receive notices from the State House on planned visits. Ours is to facilitate accommodation, movement and meals, while State House caters for any other activities like advocacy. We are not able to control the number of visits and their size,” Senior Chief Finance Officer James Aloyo told the MPs.
“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.”
The legislators also questioned proposed development expenditure allocations in the 2026/2027 budget estimates, particularly Sh60.82 million earmarked for the establishment of a Kenyan mission in Hanoi, Vietnam, despite no ambassadorial appointment having been made.
“In your budget books, there is Sh60.82 million for establishment of a mission in Vietnam, yet no appointment has been made. What exactly is that allocation going to be used for?” Koech posed.
In response, Ambassador Maikara informed the Committee that 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 establishment of missions in Hanoi, Vietnam and Copenhagen, Denmark. The Sh60 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.
Bashir Abdullaih, the Committee Vice-Chairperson, 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 Sh113.8 million in the 2026/2027 Estimates, increasing its budget from Sh26.714 billion proposed in the Budget Policy Statement to Sh26.828 billion.
Meanwhile, Members also scrutinised the State Department for Diaspora Affairs over its request for an additional Sh639.4 million to support diaspora security and anti-human trafficking operations.
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 said 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. We have also asked for funds for sensitisation programmes across the country,” said Ambassador Gichuhi.
The State Department for Diaspora Affairs had requested Sh720 million for the interventions but has only been allocated Sh80.6 million, leaving a funding gap of Sh639.4 million.
Overall, the department has been allocated Sh817 million, reflecting a deficit of Sh27 million from the initial Sh844 million allocation proposed in the Budget Policy Statement.
The Committee also received submissions from the State Department for East African Community Affairs.
Principal Secretary Caroline Karugu highlighted achievements made by the department, including the operationalisation of EAC border offices at One Stop Border Posts and efforts aimed at eliminating non-tariff barriers within the region.
Despite the progress, the State Department for EAC Affairs recorded a reduction of Sh31.9 million in its proposed budget allocation, dropping from Sh841.4 million in the Budget Policy Statement to Sh809.4 million in the 2026/2027 Estimates.
Additionally, the Committee received presentations from the Ministry of Defence led by Principal Secretary Patrick Mariru, as well as officials from the National Intelligence Service.
