Karua pledges 60% cut in travel, entertainment spending if elected

People's Liberation Party leader Martha Karua has pledged to slash government expenditure on foreign and local travel, entertainment and other non-essential spending by 60 per cent if elected, saying the country must live within its means and seal revenue leakages before resorting to borrowing or imposing new taxes.

Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV's Sunday Live show, Karua said Kenya should align its spending with the revenue it collects to avoid accumulating more debt.

"If you are in a hole and you want to get out, stop digging," Karua said.

"Have a budget of only the money we raise. Let's not spend more than we raise."

She argued that savings could be realised by reducing what she termed unnecessary expenditure and strengthening accountability in the use of public funds.

"Stop unnecessary foreign and local travel, stop the entertainment. I would cut that by 60 per cent," she said.

Karua also called for stronger anti-corruption measures, including lifestyle audits for public officials and faster investigations and prosecutions involving misuse of public resources.

"People will know it is no longer business as usual," she said.

The former Justice Minister said the government should prioritise plugging revenue leakages before introducing new taxes or increasing borrowing.

"Do not raise taxes, do not borrow before you seal the leakages. That is the way to help Kenyans," she said.

Karua further questioned the frequency of President William Ruto's foreign travel, saying the Head of State should spend more time overseeing government programmes and addressing concerns raised by Kenyans.

She suggested that some matters could be handled through government ministries and agencies, arguing that foreign affairs functions should largely be handled by the ministry responsible for diplomacy, saying Cabinet ministers serve as delegates of the President.

"I haven't seen a president with a minister of foreign affairs who wants to do the job of foreign affairs. Every minister is a delegate of the president, and the minister in charge of foreign affairs is the president's delegate," she said.

If he has no confidence in his delegate, how about changing?"

President Ruto, however, has defended his travel schedule, saying international engagements form part of his official duties as Head of State and are aimed at advancing Kenya's diplomatic and economic interests.

Speaking during a town hall meeting with Kenyans living and working in Scandinavia on June 12, the President said his travels were focused on securing partnerships and promoting Kenya's interests abroad.

"I have not come here as a tourist or to waste time; I have come here to make sure we have achieved certain things," Ruto said.

"Just for the record, I am the chief diplomat of our country."

The President said sustained diplomatic engagement was necessary to position Kenya globally and attract investment opportunities.

He reiterated the position during a fundraiser in Kajiado county on June 14, saying international engagements were part of his mandate as President.

"Sometimes they ask why the President has travelled abroad or met leaders from different parts of the world. That is the job I was elected to do," he said.

Ruto added that his travel diary was booked months in advance as part of efforts to advance Kenya's development agenda.

Karua's remarks come amid ongoing public debate over government spending and debt levels following the presentation of the Sh4.82 trillion 2026/27 Budget.

The budget projects a deficit of about Sh1.1 trillion, which the government plans to finance through a combination of borrowing and other financing measures.