President William Ruto has clarified that the cost incurred for his travel to the US was way less than what would have been spent if he had used a Kenya Airways plane.
The President travelled to the US aboard an A6-RJU royal jet.
In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, the President said he has received concerns from Kenyans who questioned why he did not use the presidential jet or the Kenya Airways plane in his State Visit to the US.
But in a rejoinder, Ruto said the choice of his plane to the US was influenced by his decision to ensure the prudent use of State resources.
"Fellow Kenyans, I have noted concerns about my mode of transport to the USA. As a responsible steward of public resources and in keeping with my determination for us to live within our means and that I should lead from the front in so doing, the cost was less than travelling on KQ," Ruto said.
Ruto, however, did not state the amount he used for the hired jet and the amount he would have spent if he had to use a Kenya Airways plane.
A State House official had earlier told the Star the President could not use his presidential jet as it has never been to the US since it was bought in the 90s.
The official said the design of the jet makes it effective to operate in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
State House Press Secretary Emmanuel Talam was quoted by local media saying the plane could not be used as "it will have to stop five times to refuel".
Multiple reports estimate that the cost of hiring a Boeing business jet like the one Ruto used in his visit to the US oscillates around $18,000 per hour, roughly Sh2,358,0000.
A journey to Atlanta, US, where Ruto first made a stop, is approximately 19 hours from Kenya, meaning it would cost Sh71,404,500 with that rate.
Earlier, the US embassy denied footing President Ruto's travelling cost to the US.
"Just to be clear: The United States of America DID NOT pay for President Ruto’s jet to the U.S," U.S. Embassy-Nairobi spokespersoN Andrew Veveiros told a local media house.
