Travel agents are seeking a lift on the order barring government officials from taking foreign trips, arguing that it has hit their businesses hard.
The Kenya Association of Travel Agents (Kata) says the prolonged electioneering period had taken a toll on travel business in the country.
Chief of Staff and Head of civil service Joseph Kinyua in a September 13 circular to all Cabinet secretaries, the Attorney General and principal secretaries said no government official will be allowed to leave the country without clearance from the president.
Mr Kinyua said in the letter also copied to the Director of Immigration Gordon Kihalangwa that the ban stays until further notice.
“Government should lift the blanket ban on travel by government officials as a sign of normalcy in government operations and to restore confidence in other private sector players,” said Kata chief executive Nicanor Sabula.
Business travel is a key sub-sector of the tourism industry with estimated annual sales of Sh50 billion, providing employment to thousands working within the travel agencies.
The government splashed more than Sh4.6 billion on foreign travel in the nine months to March 2017, data from the Controller of Budget shows.
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