President Ruto has come under fire for using a private business jet for his three-day state visit to the United States.
The estimated cost of using the luxury jet was Sh200 million and critics, including Kalonzo Musyoka, argued that it would have been cheaper to use Kenya Airways. This suggestion was impractical.
The President needed a dedicated plane to land at Andrews Airforce Base and then go to Atlanta and Washington. KQ is already suffering flight delays because two Dreamliners are grounded. How much worse would the delays have been if the President took over a Dreamliner? And what would be the opportunity cost of the lost passenger fares?
This was also the first state visit to the USA by an African leader in 13 years. It was important that Kenya made a good impression.
And the trip paid off. Kenya received multiple benefits for Ruto's US trip, from 130 helicopters to partnership status with Nato.
Of course the United States had its own agenda to counter the growing influence of Russia and China in Africa. But Kenya still did well out of Ruto's trip. The cost of hiring the business jet was justified.
Quote of the day: "In order to see the boundaries of the probable, we need to try the impossible."
Sultan Mehmed II
The Ottoman leader captured Constantinople on May 29, 1453
