Head of Public Service Felix Koskei has directed Principal Secretaries and other senior government officials to restrict official foreign travel to essential engagements that serve the national interest, as the government moves to cut wastage and improve efficiency.
Koskei issued the directive Wednesday during the monthly meeting of Principal Secretaries, which he chaired in Nairobi.
Koskei said official trips outside the country should only be undertaken where they have a clear national benefit and contribute to the country’s development interests.
“I called for faster, disciplined implementation with measurable results and restricted official foreign travel to essential engagements that serve the national interest,” Koskei said in a statement.
The meeting reviewed the implementation of presidential directives, previous resolutions and commitments made during the Third National Executive retreat.
The PSs also received updates on the ongoing payroll audit, government office accommodation, Kenya Airways’ performance and recovery strategy, as well as national security.
According to Koskei, the government was keen on ensuring that decisions and directives agreed upon by senior officials translate into measurable results rather than remaining on paper.
He tasked accounting officers with enforcing measures to combat corruption, wastage and inefficiency across government ministries, departments and agencies.
“I instructed Accounting Officers to enforce measures against corruption, wastage and inefficiency,” he said.
Koskei further directed government departments and agencies to implement agreed actions, assign clear responsibility to specific officials and report progress within set timelines.
The measures are intended to strengthen accountability and ensure that government programmes are implemented efficiently and within agreed schedules.
The restriction on foreign travel comes amid the government’s continued push to contain public expenditure and ensure that limited resources are directed towards priority programmes.
The meeting also considered measures aimed at strengthening Kenya’s economic competitiveness, attracting investment and creating jobs.
The officials agreed on interventions to support economic growth while protecting vulnerable Kenyans and maintaining national stability.
Koskei said the government would continue to emphasise performance, accountability and prudent use of public resources as part of efforts to improve service delivery.
The Chief of Staff also stressed the need for government agencies to work within clear timelines and ensure that responsibility for implementing decisions is assigned to specific officers.
The meeting brought together PSs as part of the government’s regular coordination mechanism for reviewing implementation of presidential directives and tracking commitments across ministries and state agencies.
The discussions also covered Kenya Airways’ performance and recovery strategy, reflecting the government’s interest in strengthening the national carrier and addressing challenges affecting its operations.
Koskei said the government would continue to monitor implementation of the resolutions and hold responsible officers accountable for delivering agreed outcomes.
