Former President Uhuru has elicited reactions after traveling to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) aboard a Uganda Airline aircraft.
In a statement on Friday, January 19, the Office of the Fourth President confirmed his arrival in Kinshasa, DRC, ahead of the inauguration ceremony of President-elect Felix Tshisekedi.
The office shared several photos of the President arriving at the N’Djili International Airport to a colorful reception from dancers and Congolese authorities as a testament that his visit was more than that of an ordinary man.
Accompanying him was Uganda’s Vice President Jessica Alupo who was also set to attend the inauguration of President Tshisekedi.
Whilst Uhuru was attending the function as former President and Facilitator of the EAC- led Nairobi Peace Process, the choice of plane became a point of concern.
Kenyans took to their social media, raising questions on why the former President did not use the Air Force aircrafts designated for VVIP transport or at least a chartered Kenya Airways plane.
Kenyans react to Uganda Airlines photo
Pius Kinuthia, a popular blogger, was among those who raised questions about Uhuru’s choice of transport to the DRC, asking what it implied about his patriotism.
“Not surprised that Uhuru Kenyatta used Ugandan Airlines to fly to Kinshasa for the swearing in of President Tshisekedi. Where is his patriotism?” Kinuthia posed.
On her part, blogger Pauline Njoroge- who is also close to Uhuru’s Jubilee Party, asked about the whereabouts of the Kenya Airforce and thanked Uganda for the plane.
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“Uganda Airlines! Thanks to Uncle Museveni. But where was the Kenya Airforce?” she posted on social media accounts.
Echwalu, an international journalist also weighed in noting that it was strange to see the former Kenyan President use a Ugandan aircraft for his trip.
“Strange that the immediate former president of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta hitched a flight for the inauguration ceremony of DRC’s President-elect Félix Tshisekedi in a chartered Uganda Airlines plane,” the photojournalist stated.
The comments kept coming in with social media sharing different opinions about the gesture and its implications.
Also Read: Reactions as Uhuru Denies Congratulating DRC President
How Uhuru has been traveling for international assignment
Formerly in his position as Kenya’s envoy and Facilitator of the EAC- led Nairobi Peace Process, Uhuru has used different planes including once when he used a Kenya Airforce plane to Burundi in November 2022.
Dignitaries traveling outside the country have always used different means of transport based on different reasons including distance and assignment at hand.
The big three, the President, Deputy President, and the Prime Cabinet Secretary, have in the past used the different Kenya Air Force planes.
But in some exceptions, these dignitaries use chartered aircraft. However, the national flag carrier has traditionally been the choice when it comes to chartered flights for dignitaries as it is seen as a way of promoting the airline’s brand.
