In contrast to Kenya Airways (KQ), President William Ruto strongly supported his option to travel by luxurious private ” Hustler Jet” on his four-day state visit to the United States of America.
Ruto responded to criticism in a social media post, stressing the wise use of public funds.
“My fellow Kenyans, I’ve noticed several issues with the way I travelled to the United States. The cost was lower than taking the KQ, and it aligned with my commitment to living within our means and leading by example as a careful steward of public resources, as he stated on X, a former Twitter platform.
KTN logged in to the KQ website to try and book all seats so that they could determine the real cost. However, they faced harsh criticism, stating that the president was going to Atlanta and Washington, whereas KQ does not fly in those areas.
Political pundits say if he had taken KQ, that would be marketing the Kenyan brand, which would’ve attracted some American interest and investment, but here President Ruto is marketing a foreign jet, which has now gained attention worldwide.
When the government stopped funding “non-essential foreign travel” in October of last year in an effort to save costs, the move created controversy.
The US Embassy clarified that they did not finance Ruto’s plane. The sum of around $1.5 million paid for the opulent travel of more than thirty representatives, one of whom was a well-known comedian. On Monday, the group touched down in Atlanta, Georgia.
The government spokesperson, Isaac Mwaura, justified the transportation method by emphasizing the benefits of the visit, which included Sh1 trillion in investments.
FellowKenyans, 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.
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) May 26, 2024
He mentioned the contribution of 16 helicopters for security and disaster relief, as well as the provision of Sh3.2 billion for ICT.
Mwaura highlighted the advantages, citing US assistance totaling $700,000 to help the Public Benefits Organisation Act’s implementation and $40 million for programs promoting democracy and governance. This highlights real benefits in spite of the controversy surrounding opulent travel.
President Ruto signed economic agreements worth billions of dollars during his official visit to the US. Top military and law enforcement officers, including Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki and Head of Public Service Felix Koskey, greeted him warmly as he arrived back in Nairobi on Saturday night.
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