Ruto: ‘Friends of Kenya’ covered the $77,000 expense of my flight to the United States

President William Ruto of Kenya claims that taxpayers paid less than Ksh10 million ($77,000) for his chartered plane during his recent trip to the United States of America because some “friends of Kenya” co-sponsored the trip when he volunteered to fly on Kenya Airways, the country’s flag airline.

He kept the buddies’ identities a secret.

Speaking on Thursday at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi during the annual National Prayer Breakfast, the head of state refuted reports that he spent over Ksh200 million ($1.5 million) on the historic journey.

“Numerous amounts have been provided by others, claiming that the President needed to arrive in style while holding Rachel’s hand, hence the jet cost Sh200 million. I promise you that I am an extremely conscientious citizen and that I could never spend Sh200 million. Let me reveal right now that the Republic of Kenya paid less than Sh10 million for it,” he stated.

The president of state claimed that upon learning that the least expensive chartered trip would set him back Ksh70 million ($538,000), he notified his administration to make reservations for him on Kenya Airways.

“A few of my pals”

“When some of my friends heard that I was going to travel on Kenya Airways, they asked me how much I was ready to pay and said not more than Ksh20 million, they told me to pay only Ksh10 million to get the plane,” he added.

He asserted that he needed to take the lead in urging Kenyans to live within their means and tighten their belts.

He had before justified his choice to charter the private plane to the United States, stating that it was the most affordable choice.

The President said that his decision to fly in a Boeing 737-700 operated by Dubai’s Royal Jet was more affordable, costing $748,600 (Ksh98 million) one trip.

“I’ve noticed certain worries regarding my means of transportation to the USA. The cost was cheaper than taking the KQ, and it was in line with my resolve to live within our means as a responsible steward of public resources and to lead by example,” the President said on his previous Twitter account, X.

His reaction came when leaders of the opposition Azimio, led by Kalonzo Musyoka, the leader of the Wiper party, questioned the reasoning behind his demand that Kenyans “cut their coats according to their cloth”.

“What the President returns with to the nation is irrelevant. It’s not pocket change—Ksh200 million. This is just waste,” Mr. Musyoka remarked.