President William Ruto has defended his decision to use a luxury private jet for his 4-day State Visit to the United States of America, asserting that it was a cost-effective choice compared to Kenya Airways (KQ).
Ruto says his chartered jet for his recent trip to the United States of America cost taxpayers less than Ksh10 million ($77,000) after some "friends of Kenya" co-sponsored the trip when he offered to travel on the national carrier Kenya Airways.
He did not disclose the identity of the friends.In a statement on his social media, Ruto addressed concerns, emphasizing the prudent use of public resources.
Speaking during the annual National Prayer Breakfast at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi on Thursday, the head of State dismissed claims that he spent more than Ksh200 million ($1.5 million) on the historic trip.
"Fellow Kenyans, I have noted concerns on my mode of transport to the USA. As a responsible steward of public resources and in keeping with my determination for us to live within our means and that I should lead from the front in so doing, the cost was less than travelling on KQ,” he wrote on X formerly Twitter.
The decision sparked debate amid austerity calls last October when the government suspended “non-essential foreign travel” to curb spending.
Kenyans have expressed outrage that he chartered an aircraft from the Dubai-owned RoyalJet company for the trip instead of using his usual presidential plane given his government’s austerity measures and the cost-of-living crisis.
The US Embassy clarified that it didn’t finance Ruto’s jet. The estimated $1.5 million cost covered the luxurious trip for over 30 delegates, including a popular comedian. The delegation landed in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday.
It is not clear why the president opted for the private jet but there have been safety concerns about the usual presidential plane, known as Harambee One, which was bought nearly 30 years ago.
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