Ambassador Meg Whitman Explains Who Paid for Ruto’s US State Visit Expenses
US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman recently provided insights into the protocols surrounding President William Ruto’s State visit to the United States in May.
During an appearance on Citizen TV’s The Explainer Show, Whitman elaborated on the procedures involved in the visit, emphasizing the collaborative roles of both Kenyan and U.S. governments in facilitating diplomatic engagement.
Whitman noted that President Ruto and his delegation were responsible for arranging and financing their travel to the U.S.
Upon arrival in the United States, the expenses for Ruto and his team during their stay were covered by the U.S. government, as the State visit spanned four days.
“The protocol requires the head of state and his team to handle their travel to the U.S., after which we cover the expenses,” she explained.
Following the visit, Ruto and his entourage were responsible for their return travel to Kenya.
“They must manage their return trip; that’s the standard procedure,” Whitman added.
On May 19, 2024, President Ruto departed Kenya on a chartered Boeing 737-700, reportedly operated by Royal Jet of Dubai. He utilized the same jet for his stops in the U.S. and returned to Kenya on May 25, 2024.
A one-way flight from Nairobi to Atlanta on the luxury jet, lasting about 18 hours, was estimated to cost Kenyan taxpayers approximately Ksh.98 million.
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Therefore, the round trip could exceed Ksh.200 million, considering Ruto also traveled from Atlanta to Washington D.C., a two-hour flight.
These revelations sparked public outrage, with many Kenyans criticizing Ruto for urging public servants to ‘live within their means’ while incurring significant expenses for his U.S. tour.
Upon his return to Kenya, President Ruto defended his spending on the trip, claiming the private jet was more cost-effective than using Kenya Airways (KQ).
Ruto asserted that he spent only Ksh.10 million on chartering the luxury jet, describing it as a deal compared to his initial offer of Ksh.20 million to his Arabian connections.
“I am a very responsible leader, and I assure you, there’s no way I could have spent Ksh.200 million. It cost Kenya less than Ksh.10 million because I’m not reckless,” Ruto remarked.
“When I was informed that the cheapest option was Ksh.70 million, I instructed my office to book Kenya Airways. However, some friends who knew of my plan and reputation offered me the plane for Ksh.10 million instead of the Ksh.20 million I was initially prepared to pay,” he added.
Ambassador Meg Whitman Explains Who Paid for Ruto’s US State Visit Expenses
