"He has told us that we must seek his approval if we have to travel out of the country and even then you must have a compelling reason for you to be allowed to travel," said one PS.
It is not clear when the ban was put in place but several PSs told the Star separately yesterday that there is a travel ban. Kimemia was not available for comment yesterday and did not respond to calls and a text message sent to him.
A similar ban was put in place in the weeks leading up to the last elections where PS, commission chairmen and their commissioners, plus some parastatal heads were required to seek Kimemia's approval before travelling abroad.
The Office of the Ombudsman Otiende Amolo opposed the ban as unconstitutional. Chief Justice Willy Mutunga also protested the ban after an immigration officer at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport tried to stop him from traveling to Tanzania onofficial business.
Yesterday another PS said he wanted to travel out of the country last week on personal issues at his own expense. He was denied permission by Kimemia's office on grounds that "the country is going through a critical moment that required the PS to be around".
Normally PSs are required to just inform the President through the Head of Public Service of their official travels.
- The Star
