Yatani said the tightening of spending will ensure that the government operates within its financial means and maintains macroeconomic stability.
“Given the need to enhance requirements for the “Big Four” Plan, emerging expenditure pressures, the underperformance of revenue and the already high level of borrowing, it is inevitable that public spending is tightened,” the circular stated.
He ordered ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to cut down on several activities and services including foreign travels, airtime, newspapers, furniture and personnel training.
To cut on domestic and foreign travel expenditure, the CS asked government officers to use technology to transact government business.
“All MDAs should utilize technology and transact business through teleconference, use our Foreign Missions and Embassies to transact Government business and other communication platforms to minimize foreign travel”. He stated.
Additionally, he specified that the government will fast track the passage of a transport policy to guide the acquisition of motor vehicles for senior officers in the government.
He added that all domestic air travel should be on economy class and that all benchmarking and study tours are immediately suspended until further notice.
On trainings, he ordered, “Except for highly specialised courses, all government-sponsored training should be conducted in the Country and in particular the Kenya School of Government and other Government training institutions.”
The CS ordered that with immediate effect, newspapers and airtime allowance given to all categories of staff be rationalised.
Furthermore, he commanded that MDAs should first exhaust office space in government buildings, before renting space from the market and they should also cut the cost of furniture by 75% for the next three years.
Whether the new directive will be effected and how effective it will be is something that remains to be seen.
In March 2014, President Uhuru Kenyatta issued a directive ordering state officers to take a salary cut.
He announced that he and Deputy President William Ruto would take a 20% pay cut while that of members of the cabinet would be reduced by 10%.
According to Business Daily, the voluntary pay cuts ordered by Uhuru saved only a partly Ksh70 million in public wage bill in 2017.