President William Ruto has defended the use of a luxury private jet for his recent State Visit to the United States, which has drawn significant public criticism due to its high cost. On May 19, 2024, Ruto traveled aboard a chartered Boeing 737-700 operated by Royal Jet of Dubai. The cost of the round trip, including stops in Atlanta and Washington D.C., is estimated to exceed Ksh.200 million. This has sparked outrage among Kenyans, especially since Ruto has previously urged public servants to live within their means.
Upon his return on May 25, 2024, Ruto addressed the controversy, asserting that using the private jet was more economical than flying with Kenya Airways (KQ), Kenya’s national carrier. “Fellow Kenyans, I have noted concerns on my mode of transport to 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,” Ruto stated in a tweet.
Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura also defended the expenditure, emphasizing that the benefits of Ruto’s visit to the US far outweighed the cost of the private jet “a million times.” He dismissed concerns over the expenditure as unjustified given the potential long-term benefits for Kenya.
Earlier claims that the US had funded Ruto’s travel were refuted by the US embassy in Nairobi. A spokesperson clarified, “Just to be clear: The United States of America did not pay for President Ruto’s jet to the US.”
