Stung by mounting public criticism of his many tours abroad, President William Ruto has now said his administration has cut foreign travel budget by Sh11 billion.
Ruto said public servants will not be allowed to attend workshops abroad.
"We have cut travel budget by Sh11 billion in all ministries or departments and not the Sh50 million reported by the press. There will be no foreign conferences, workshops, and bench-marking for public servants," said Ruto.
The Head of State said he will only allow foreign trips that will help unlock investments and opportunities for Kenyans.
President Ruto spoke Friday at the Moi Stadium in Taita Taveta after opening the Voi Gemstone Value Addition and Marketing Centre.
The gemstone project constructed at the cost of Sh100 million will help local miners add value to their gemstones and end massive exploitation from middlemen, he said.
"Public servants who want to go shopping outside the country should use their own resources and not public funds. I will allow foreign trips that will add value to Kenyans," Dr Ruto maintained.
At the same time, the President ordered miners who have not renewed their licences to do so immediately before the government catches up with them.
He disclosed that there are about 1,400 illegal miners who will face the law if they fail to work within the law.
Ruto further directed Samruddha Resources Kenya Ltd extracting iron ore in the Kishushe area in Wundanyi since 2018 to pay the Sh20 million it owes to the community as corporate social responsibility.
"I have been told that the investor has only paid Sh10 million and has a balance of Sh20 million which he should have cleared a long time ago. I want the investor to respect the people and pay the remaining balance failure to which we will come for him," warned Ruto.
Mining Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya said all gemstones will be processed, weighed, valued, and packaged at the centre before being exported.
