EXPLAINED: Will Ruto Ride In A Bus To King Charles III's Coronation?

Moments after State House spokesperson, Hussein Mohamed, announced that President William Ruto would attend King Charles III's coronation ceremony in the United Kingdom (UK) set for Saturday, May 6, a potential de-ja-vu set of rumours emerged.

The President will fly out of the country on Friday evening, May 5 to attend the ceremony, marking a return to the UK for the first time since Queen Elizabeth II's funeral on Monday, September 19, 2022.

Other than the colourful send-off, a major talking point was President Ruto with First Lady Rachel Ruto and other African presidents in attendance at the funeral riding in a bus like ordinary town folk, unlike Western heads of state, who were driven in private cars. 

President William Ruto riding to Queen Elizabeth's funeral aboard a bus and US counterpart, Joe Biden travelling in his armoured motorcade to the same destination. /VIRALTEAKE

In particular, United States (US) President Joe Biden rode in his armoured presidential limousine dubbed 'The Beast', which was airlifted to the UK for the headline event, more than 5,000 kilometres away and across the Atlantic Ocean.

Months later, Ruto would air out his unhappiness on African presidents being hounded into a bus like school children during the funeral in London, despite them wielding significant power in their countries and being accorded VIP treatment during their trips on numerous occasions.

“We have these meetings, Africa-US, Africa-Europe, Africa-Turkey, now we are waiting for Africa-Russia and Africa-Japan. We have made the decision that it is not intelligent for 54 of us to go and sit before one gentleman from another place.

“Sometimes we are mistreated. We are loaded into buses like school kids, and it’s not right,” he stated in a conversation with the British-Sudanese billionaire, Mo Ibrahim, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) during the Mo Ibrahim Governance Weekend on Saturday, April 29.

With that in place and with confirmation of Ruto's attendance at King Charles III's coronation, a section of Kenyans have been wondering if lightning will strike twice.

International reports however indicated that world leaders will not be transported by bus to the King's coronation, with UK publication The Telegraph revealing that foreign dignitaries visiting London for the ceremony will travel to Westminster Abbey in their own cars.

This is however in comparison to the Queen's funeral where the majority of world leaders travelled together by bus to the event instead of their own cars, one of the strict rules in place for the funeral. Leaders were transited in a bus from the receiving point in west London to the funeral venue.

In addition, world leaders were required to travel to London on commercial flights, meaning they were barred from using private jets to the capital as well as using helicopters to move around. This is because Heathrow Airport was not allowing private jets to the country.

This time around, the rule on travelling commercial was dropped, with multiple reports indicating that presidential aircraft and private jets from various countries were spotted making their way to the UK.

Representatives from 203 countries, including around 100 heads of state, are expected to be part of the 2,200-strong congregation in London's Westminster Abbey on May 6. The White House however announced that Biden would miss the event; no US president has ever attended a British coronation.

Instead, his wife and First Lady Jill Biden will lead a US delegation that includes special climate envoy John F. Kerry, who has worked closely with Charles on climate initiatives over the years.

Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, who both attended the queen’s funeral, will not make the trip this time, according to British media reports. Instead, Crown Prince Fumihito (who, like his parents, studied at the University of Oxford) will represent Japan, along with his wife, Crown Princess Kiko.

Despite the heavy security expected at the event, organizers stated that the coronation will be, by design, a smaller affair than the late Elizabeth’s coronation 70 years ago.

King Charles III posing for a photo. /GETTY IMAGES