President William Samoei Ruto was sworn into office on September 13, 2022, following his victory in the 2022 general elections. Since assuming office, the president has been on the headlines over the number of international trips he has made so far.
As of November 2024, Ruto’s trips in two years were about 68 with the recent one being a trip to Juba, South Sudan on November 6, 2024, for a peace-making initiative.
The almost constant trips and numerous ones out of the country have to a greater extent sparked uproar in the recent past among the taxpayers who feel that the president is using funds in his trips that could be channelled for various development initiatives.
Notably, some of the trips Ruto featured the use of private jets including the chartered Boeing 737-700 Business Jet operated by Royal Jet of Dubai.
Owing to the numerous trips, the president has earned various tags such as “the King of the skies” and the “flying President”.
Also Read: Ruto Jets Out for Crucial International Meetings
Ruto’s Trips in 2024
Here is a table showing the number of international travels made by Ruto in the year 2024,
| Country | Month | Purpose |
| Uganda | January | Attended 42nd IGAD Extraordinary Summit & Non-Aligned Movement Summit. |
| Democratic Republic of Congo | January | Attended the swearing-in ceremony of Félix Tshisekedi as President of DRC. |
| Italy | January | Attended the Italy-Africa Summit 2024. |
| Japan | February | He made a state visit where he signed various financial agreements. |
| United Arab Emirates | February | Attended World Governments Summit. |
| Ethiopia | February | Attended the 37th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly. |
| Namibia | February | Attended the Funeral of President Hage Geingob. |
| Uganda | February | Held a meeting with President Yoweri Museveni at his country home where issues of energy and petroleum were discussed. |
| Tanzania | March | Held meeting with President Samia Suluhu and Yoweri Museveni where East African Agenda items were discussed. |
| Ghana | April | Ruto discussed bilateral relations between the two countries as well as signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). |
| Guinea Bissau | April | Both President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea Bissau and Ruto held bilateral talks. Ruto pledged to initiate direct flights between the two countries. |
| Equatorial Guinea | April | He was received by the country’s Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue. They held bilateral talks as well, Ruto asked for the country’s support for Raila’s AUC bid. |
| Central African Republic | April | The president was received by the CAR president Faustin Archange Touadéra. They held talks and Ruto requested the support of CAR in backing Raila’s AUC bid. |
| Tanzania | April | Attended Tanzania Union Day Celebrations. |
| Zimbabwe | April | The President made a two-day state visit where bilateral talks counterpart Emmerson Mnangagwa at the state house in Bulawayo. |
| Rwanda | May | Ruto attended the Africa CEO Forum hosted by Jeune Afrique Media Group in partnership with the International Finance Corporation, part of the World Bank Group. |
| United States | May | He made a state visit to the U.S. where he had a series of events. He visited the Jimmy Carter Library Museum. Additionally, he proceeded to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention headquarters where he observed the signing of MoUs between CDC and Kenya Medical Institute among other assignments. |
| South Korea | June | He attended the Africa-Korea Summit. |
| Italy | June | The president attended the 50th G7 summit. |
| Switzerland | June | He attended a summit on Peace in Ukraine. |
| Rwanda | August | He attended the Inauguration ceremony of Paul Kagame. |
| China | September | Ruto attended a forum on China-Africa Cooperation. |
| Germany | September | He made an official State Visit to Germany where he signed a labor mobility and migration agreement. |
| Haiti | September | Ruto visited the Kenyan Police forces stationed in Haiti to assess the situation. |
| Burundi | October | Attended the 23rd Summit of Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Heads of State and Government. |
| South Sudan | November | The president made an official state visit to discuss with President Salva Kiir how to establish the foundation for long-lasting peace. |
Also Read: Ruto Jets Out to Visit Two Countries in West Africa
Ruto Makes 68 Trips as of Mid-November
Media reports reveal that as of November 2024, President Ruto had made over 68 travels since the time he came into office. This is three times more than the number of foreign trips made by the late third president, Mwai Kibaki during his 10-year reign.
Moreover, the frequent foreign travels drew mixed reactions among Kenyans and much frustration for his undying focus on international matters while some pressing domestic issues remain unattended.
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