Kenyan president Ruto defends cost of private jet for US trip while calling for prudent spending

Kenyan President William Ruto said Thursday the cost of hiring a private jet for his state visit to the U.S. last week was $76,000 as opposed to the $1.2 million reported by Kenyan media outlets.

Ruto said some friends offered him a cheaper jet after he made inquiries and offered to travel using the state carrier Kenya Airways.

KENYAN PRESIDENT, BIDEN APPEAL TO GLOBAL LEADERS TO REDUCE HUGE DEBT ON DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

The president undertook a four-day trip to the U.S. last week, where his host President Joe Biden praised him for “bold leadership.”

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, top of stairs from right, hosts a welcoming ceremony for Kenya’s President William Ruto at the Pentagon in Washington, Friday, May 24, 2024.  (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Ruto’s delegation of about 30 people including musicians, actors and a comedian provoked an uproar back home over the cost even as he called for prudent spending. The president on Thursday said he was a very “responsible steward.”

Ruto had earlier said the cost of using the private jet was lower than flying on Kenya Airways, without providing evidence.

Ruto has been calling for reduced spending in government since the public called out his administration for increasing taxes without reducing expenditures.

The government is increasing taxes on basic goods in the next financial year while seeking to raise an additional $2.3 billion to finance the budget.

Earlier in May, Ruto defended the new taxes saying: “I’m not going to preside over a country in debt distress. We have to cut our spending.”

Check Also

Israel strikes Hezbollah targets in Lebanon after two rounds of device explosions

Israel launched a series of overnight strikes on sites in Lebanon where the Israeli military …

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *