President Ruto ditches private jets as he goes back to Kenya Airways

Lately, the President, who had been grounded by political upheavals and mass demonstrations, has gone back to hitting the skies - and has been noticeably doing so via Kenya Airways.

During his trip to the White House, where he was met with pomp and fanfare by President Joe Biden, Ruto used a staggeringly costly Boeing 737-700 private plane which sources revealed cost the Kenyan taxpayers upwards of Ksh.200 million but he disputed.

The revelations would be soon met with harsh condemnation online with many Kenyans castigating him for his administration's reckless extravagance.

After flying back to Kenya, Ruto sought to assuage the masses and silence the castigations, claiming that his "friends" had come to his rescue and offered him the plane - after the Kenya Airways bill became too much to bear.

Then, Ruto claimed his chartered jet cost taxpayers less than Ksh.10 million ($77,000) after some "friends of Kenya" co-sponsored the trip. He did not disclose the identity of the said friends.

"People have given all manner of figures...that the plane cost Sh200 million because the President needed to arrive in style holding Rachel's hand. You know I'm a very responsible citizen, believe me, there is no way I can spend Sh200 million. In fact, let me disclose here that it cost the Republic of Kenya less than Sh10 million," he then said.

The Head of State added that he informed his office to book him on Kenya Airways and that's when he was told that the cheapest chartered KQA flight would cost Ksh.70 million ($538,000).

"When some of my friends heard that I was going to travel on Kenya Airways, they asked me how much I was ready to pay and said not more than Ksh.20 million, they told me to pay only Ksh.10 million to get the plane," he disclosed.

Now, just three months later, Kenya Airways is evidently President Ruto's favourite way of travelling for his foreign engagements.

While on a trip to China last week, the President flew a Kenya Airways plane - in fact, his social media team made sure to splash his timeline with well-curated carousels of the President proudly disembarking from the emblazoned plane.

And again, while leaving for Germany for an official trip, Ruto used a Kenya Airways plane, appearing to firmly restore hope in the national carrier not too long after complaining of their steep expenses.

Ruto's reaffirmed preference for Kenya Airways is also a clear stamp of approval for the national carrier, a resounding vote of confidence on KQ and a subtle messaging to Kenyans and travellers at large - Kenya Airways is the way to go.

While it is not yet clear what informed his change of heart, the move is an obviously welcome gesture especially from the highest office in the land - and an unequivocal call for pride in the national carrier.