Gov’t Launches System To Track Foreign Travel By CSs, Issues Strict Measures: “We’ll Track”

• The government introduced the Foreign Travel Management System (FOTMIS) to regulate and monitor foreign trips by high-ranking officials, including Cabinet Secretaries
• FOTMIS is part of President William Ruto's strategy to curb public spending and ensure accountability in government travel
• Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua stated that FOTMIS would rationalise and justify public funds used for official travel, ensuring prudent resource use
• Deputy Chief of Staff Eliud Owalo highlighted that FOTMIS tracks travel purposes, costs, and frequency, offering valuable insights into the impact of these trips

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi - The government has introduced a new digital system to closely monitor and regulate foreign travel by high-ranking state officers, including Cabinet Secretaries (CSs).

The Foreign Travel Management System (FOTMIS) is designed to track, process, and approve all foreign trips undertaken by Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, and other top state officials.

The move comes as part of President William Ruto's administration's strategy to curb public spending and address growing concerns about mismanagement.

In 2023, Chief of Staff Felix Koskei issued a memo suspending all non-essential foreign travel for government officials and restricting the size of delegations on such trips.

During the launch of the system on Monday, September 2, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua stressed the importance of the system.

He explained that the system would rationalise those who are authorised to travel on official duty, ensuring the justification of public funds used during such trips.

"FOTIMS enhances application, processing and approval of foreign travel for public servants. Importantly, it ensures prudent use of public resources and accountability for expenses incurred during the travels," he stated.

How is FOTIMS revolutionary?

Addressing the audience, Eliud Owalo, the Deputy Chief of Staff, further explained the capabilities of FOTMIS.

He noted that the newly launched system represents a significant step forward in the administration's efforts to ensure accountability.

Owalo highlighted some of the system's features, adding that it would allow the government to understand the importance of some of the travels.

"This system enables us to track the travel of every officer in the public service. We can now monitor the number of trips, their purposes, and associated costs, providing valuable insights into how these travels impact government operations," Owalo said.

Ruto's govt splashes over KSh 5b on foreign travel

In June, a budget review report revealed that Ruto's administration had spent more on travel in the first nine months of the current financial year.

The Controller of Budget (CoB) quarterly report for the year 2023/24 indicated that the government's travel expenditures hit KSh 18.18 billion.

The report showed that the Kenya Kwanza administration spent a whopping KSh 5.85 billion on foreign travel.

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