President William Ruto’s means of transport on his recent trip to Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan has sparked debate over the state’s priorities and commitment to austerity measures, at a time when the nation is grappling with the effects of rising fuel prices. 

On the trip that began on May 16, President Ruto and his delegation have used a privately owned Boeing 737-8DV (BBJ2). According to flight-tracking data, the Boeing plane arrived in Nairobi from London on May 14.

At 9 PM on May 16, the chartered plane carried the President and his team out of the country. Their first destination was  Baku in Azerbaijan, where the Kenyan leader was set to attend the 13th World Urban Forum.

On May 19, the plane left Baku for Astana, Kazakhstan, where Ruto has been for a historic state visit. 

Expensive charters

Industry estimates show the cost of hiring the jet is in the region between Ksh2.3 million and Ksh3.2 million per hour. The cost of hiring the plane could even go higher when the waiting hours are included.

Accompanying the President are First Lady Rachel Ruto and Lands and Housing Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome, among other senior government officials.

The trip to Kazakhstan has been described by government representatives as crucial to Kenya’s development. According to State House, the trip will focus on creating new market opportunities for Kenya’s exports, finding investment opportunities, and enhancing bilateral relations.

The trip adds to the growing list of foreign trips in which the President has opted for privately owned chartered planes. In 2024, the President sparked a controversy after using a UAE-owned Boeing. 

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The State of Kenya’s official jet

The increased use of chartered flights has been linked with the old age of the official presidential jet in Kenya, a Fokker 70ER, which has reportedly had several technical challenges.

This plane has been in service for several successive governments in Kenya. In a past report by the Daily Nation, State House said the official state jet purchased in the 1990s is “aging and lacks the range to fly directly to destinations like the U.S. or certain parts of Europe without making multiple refueling stops.”

These factors have led the government to rely on charter planes whenever the President needs to travel beyond the range of commercial flights.

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A pattern of private jet usage

In November 2024, the President flew to Angola on a luxurious Embraer Legacy 650 jet. Similarly, the 2024 US trip was on a chartered plane. Both cases brought the government’s expenditures and priorities into discussion when the country was experiencing difficult economic times.

Critics say that such usage of expensive private jets creates an impression of extravagance in times of financial difficulties.

Ruto’s Defense on High-Cost Travel

Ruto has continued to defend himself against the allegations that his travel choices are not economically friendly to the citizens. According to him, he makes travel plans with the help of friendly countries, which eases the load on the taxpayers in Kenya.

“My trips are often subsidized or funded by ‘friends of Kenya,’ making them significantly cheaper than flying the national carrier,” Ruto stated in his defense after uproar over the trip to Washington in 2024. 

He has also stressed the importance of efficiency, reliability, and security, as it is difficult to plan within a limited time frame using the aged presidential plane.

The President has pointed out that these travels are crucial for the development of the country’s economic and geopolitical development and must be seen as such.