Kenya’s President William Ruto has faced widespread criticism after claiming that the private jet he used to fly to the US last week was cheaper than using the national airline. However, he did not disclose the actual cost of the jet or compare it with the cost of flying on Kenya Airways.
Senior opposition figure Eugene Wamalwa described the president’s comments as “unpatriotic” in local media, arguing that he should have promoted Kenya Airways instead.
President Ruto’s visit to the US was a three-day official state visit, the first such trip by an African leader in over 15 years. During the visit, Kenya secured numerous investment deals worth billions of dollars and was designated by the US as a major non-NATO ally, solidifying its status as one of America’s closest security partners in Africa.
Despite these achievements, the use of a luxury jet has sparked ongoing criticism, prompting the president to defend his decision.
On Sunday, a day after returning to Kenya, Mr. Ruto took to X (formerly Twitter) to justify his actions, stating, “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 [Kenya Airways].”
Kenya Airways has not commented on the costs but has dismissed as fake a widely circulated statement suggesting that the airline would have been a cheaper option for the president.
Many Kenyans have criticised Mr. Ruto, with Prof. Manyora suggesting the president should have provided a more thorough explanation to persuade the public that using a private jet was justified. He emphasised that the president should have “considered people’s perceptions” and detailed the benefits of a chartered plane, such as flexibility, class, and security.
On social media, some expressed disappointment that the president did not use the national airline. Local media also reported that the total cost of business class tickets for the president and his delegation would have been significantly cheaper than hiring a private jet. The president used a Dubai-owned RoyalJet company to travel to the US with an entourage of about 30 people. Hiring such a jet reportedly costs $1.5 million compared to the estimated $300,000 for business class tickets on Kenya Airways for the entire delegation.
However, in an interview with Voice of America (VOA) over the weekend, Mr. Ruto dismissed these cost estimates as “completely exaggerated.” He did not provide a specific cost but described the figures being “bandied around” as ridiculous. “I’m careful about the resources that I spend,” he added.
Last week, government spokesman Isaac Mwaura said that the “benefits from this visit far outweigh” the costs, though he did not confirm the actual sums involved.
This controversy arises amid concerns from critics that taxpayers’ money is being used to fund government extravagance while taxes have been raised, purportedly to meet the state’s financial needs. Since becoming president in 2022, Mr. Ruto has made more than 50 international trips, averaging over three per month. The government has defended these trips as necessary, pointing to recent directives aimed at cutting spending.
