Meg Whitman, the US Ambassador to Kenya, has shed light on the protocols and arrangements that governed President William Ruto’s recent State visit to the United States in May.
Whitman spoke on Citizen TV on Tuesday about the visit’s procedural details, emphasizing the role of the Kenyan and US governments in the diplomatic process.
According to Whitman, President Ruto and his delegation independently planned and paid for their trip to the United States.
Following their arrival in the United States, the US government covered their expenses for the duration of their stay. Ruto’s State Visit lasted four days.
“The protocol is that the head of state and his entourage get themselves to the United States and then we take care of the expenses from there,” she said.
Following the visit, Whitman left, while Ruto and his entourage prepared for their trip to Kenya.
“Then they have to get themselves home; that’s how it works,” she said.
On May 19, 2024, Ruto flew out of the country in a chartered Boeing 737-700, which was said to be operated by Royal Jet of Dubai.
He used the same jet to make stops in America before returning to Kenya on May 25, 2024.
A single trip from Nairobi to Atlanta on the luxury jet, which takes about 18 hours, will cost taxpayers approximately Ksh.98 million.
As a result, a round-trip ticket could cost more than Ksh.200 million because Ruto also traveled from Atlanta to Washington D.C., which took two hours.
The revelations about the costly trip sparked public outrage, with Kenyans accusing Ruto of asking other public servants to ‘live within their means’ while breaking the bank to tour the United States.
After returning home, the Head of State defended his travel expenses, claiming that the private jet was less expensive than Kenya Airways (KQ), Kenya’s national courier.
Ruto confidently stated that he only paid Ksh.10 million to charter the luxurious jet, a price he claimed was even lower than his initial offer of Ksh.20 million to his Arabian “friends.”
“I am a very responsible steward believe you me. There is no way I can spend Ksh.200 million in fact it cost the republic of Kenya less than Ksh.10 million because I am not a madman,” noted Ruto.
“When I was told the cheapest plan was Ksh.70 million I told my office, go and book Kenya Airways so when some friends of mine heard that I was going to travel Kenya Airways, and I have built a big reputation as a country, some friends told me how much are you willing to pay?” Ruto lied.
“I said I’m not willing to spend more than Ksh.20 million they said bring Ksh.10 million we give you the plane.”
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