Ambassador Meg Whitman explains who paid for Ruto's US State visit expenses

Speaking on Citizen TV's The Explainer Show on Tuesday, Whitman explained the procedural details of the visit, highlighting the role of the Kenyan and United States governments in the diplomatic process.

According to Whitman, President Ruto and his delegation independently arranged and paid for their travel to the US.

After arriving in the United States, their expenses for the duration of their stay was catered for by the US government. Ruto's State visit lasted four days.

"The protocol is that the head of state and his entourage get themselves to the United States and then we take care of the expenses from there," she said.  

After the visit, Whitman went on, Ruto and his entourage catered for their travel to Kenya.

"Then they have to get themselves home; that's how it works," she said.

On May 19, 2024, Ruto jetted out of the country aboard a chartered Boeing 737-700 said to be operated by the Royal Jet of Dubai. He used the same jet to make stops in America, and later returned to Kenya on May 25, 2024. 

A single trip from Nairobi to Atlanta aboard the luxury jet, spanning roughly 18 hours, will cost taxpayers approximately Ksh.98 million. Therefore, a round trip could potentially surpass the Ksh.200 million mark since Ruto also travelled from Atlanta to Washington D.C., a trip spanning two-hours.

The revelations on the costly trip sparked public uproar, with Kenyans faulting Ruto for asking other public servants to ‘live within their means’ when he broke the bank to tour the US. 

After jetting back to the country, the Head of State defended his travel expenditure, saying the private jet was cheaper than Kenya’s national courier – Kenya Airways (KQ). 

Ruto confidently stated that he only spent Ksh.10 million to charter the luxurious jet, a price he claimed was even a bargain from his initial offer of Ksh.20 million to his Arabian "friends".

"I am a very responsible steward believe you me. There is no way I can spend Ksh.200 million in fact it cost the republic of Kenya less than Ksh.10 million because I am not a madman," noted Ruto.

"When I was told the cheapest plan was Ksh.70 million I told my office, go and book Kenya Airways so when some friends of mine heard that I was going to travel Kenya Airways, and I have built a big reputation as a country, some friends told me how much are you willing to pay? I said I'm not willing to spend more than Ksh.20 million they said bring Ksh.10 million we give you the plane."