Kenya’s government has banned public officials from taking non-essential trips abroad as part of efforts to cut spending.
This included travel for benchmarking, study, training and research, the country’s Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, said on Monday.
Conferences are also among the events categorised as non-essential.
Mr Koskei directed government officials to participate in such events virtually or ask diplomatic officials in host countries to attend.
According to local media, officials spent 14bn Kenyan shillings ($94m; £78m) on travel within the first nine months of President William Ruto taking office.
“Foreign travel will only be facilitated for engagements in which the government of Kenya’s participation is part of the fulfilment of state obligations,” Mr Koskei said, and in events involving “critical decisions impacting on the country’s position”.
He also capped the delegations of ministers and governors to three persons and said that they would only be allowed out of the country for a maximum of seven days per trip and 45 days per year.
He added that the delegations of the president, vice-president and first lady would only comprise staff with a direct role in scheduled activities.