US Govt Denies Paying Ksh98M For Ruto's Ksh9.3 Billion Luxury Plane
This now puts Ruto's government at the centre of controversy following reports that it could cost Kenyan taxpayers more than Ksh200 million for his state visit to the United States and back.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
The United States (US) government has strongly denied claims that it footed roughly Ksh98 million to facilitate President William Ruto's trip to the American nation on Monday, May 20 aboard a Boeing 737-700 Business Jet (BBJ) chartered from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) company RoyalJet.
This now puts Ruto's government at the centre of controversy following reports that it could cost Kenyan taxpayers more than Ksh200 million for his state visit to the United States and back. This is given that the flight duration from Nairobi to Atlanta is approximately 19 hours, the cost inclusive of additional flights.
The flight from Atlanta to Washington, DC, is roughly over one hour, including time spent at the airport. Waiting costs are typically included in the overall hiring cost of the jet.
This news comes amidst the government's constant push to have austerity measures implemented across various sectors and the complete removal of budgets for some agencies in the proposed budget for the Financial Year 2024/2025.
President William Ruto departs for the US on May 19, 2024. /DPPS
The luxury charter, provided by the Abu Dhabi-based airline Royal Jet, charges $18,000 (Ksh2.4 million) per hour with the quoted cost for a one-way flight from Nairobi to Atlanta being $748,600 (Ksh98 million) for the 18-hour journey.
This sum, along with the return trip and additional flights, brings the total expense to more than Ksh200 million as reported by The Standard on Tuesday.
The hourly rate for hiring a Boeing Business Jet ranges from $12,000 – $20,000, which is approximately Ksh1.58 million to Ksh2.63 million in the current exchange rates, with the price subject to change depending on the stops and how long the trip lasts.
A spokesperson from the US Embassy in Nairobi however stated "Just to be clear: The United States of America did not pay for President Ruto’s jet to the US."
President Ruto opted to use the BBJ aircraft over the official Fokker 70ER that he normally uses for international travels, with State House reportedly citing range limitations. In particular, the Fokker would have to make five stops to refuel as the BBJ made only one stop.
During his journey over the North Atlantic Ocean from Spain, where he made a brief stop for refuelling at Santiago de Compostela Airport, Ruto expressed his condolences for Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, describing him as a "fearless leader and dedicated public servant."
Raisi was confirmed dead by state media on Monday morning after a helicopter he was travelling in alongside Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and seven others crashed in foggy conditions in the country's remote northwest on Sunday.
However, this is compared to his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta, who opted for commercial flying, particularly choosing national carrier Kenya Airways in 2019. Ruto's choice of opulence drew criticism, especially considering that a Kenya Airways flight to New York took off just two hours after Ruto’s plane.
A business class ticket on this flight would have cost between Ksh123,000 and Ksh234,000 but would have required a connecting flight to Atlanta, thus putting the logistical and security demands of a state visit at high risk. This option was hence ruled out.
Ruto’s luxurious flight included a split 17-hour journey cruising at 34,000 feet in a Ksh9.3 billion ($71 million) aircraft. The hourly cost of the jet ranges from $12,000 (Ksh1.6 million) to $18,000 (Ksh2.4 million), making the round trip from Nairobi to Atlanta and back potentially cost Ksh86.4 million at the high end.
Additionally, flying the plane from Abu Dhabi to Nairobi and back added to the expense. Each five-hour leg of this journey cost between Ksh8 million and Ksh10 million. The jet left Abu Dhabi on Saturday morning, arriving in Nairobi by early afternoon, awaiting Ruto’s departure.
The plane is also scheduled to make fueling stops in Spain which adds to the total figure of hiring the plane.
Read more: Ksh9.3 Billion Luxury Jet That Ruto Hired For US State Visit
