With Kenyan politics simmering and Kenya’s living expenses surging, many citizens have expressed dissatisfaction with recent developments in the country involving government spending.
President Ruto has faced criticism from Kenyans for using a luxurious private jet during a four-day state visit to the United States of America.
Many Kenyans have taken to social media to express their frustration with the Kenyan president and government over using a Ksh 200 million private jet to travel. This decision has sparked anger, especially considering the proposed cuts to school feeding programs. With many Kenyans struggling to meet their daily needs, these lavish expenditures have been deemed unreasonable.
Comparisons were drawn to the travel arrangements of former presidents. For instance, President Mwai Kibaki travelled to the United States in October 2003, using Kenya Airways for transportation prompting discussions about the appropriateness of current spending practices.
President Uhuru attended the US Africa Leaders’ Summit in the United States in August 2014. This was his first visit to the United States as the president of Kenya. During his visit, President Uhuru travelled using Kenya Airways, just like his predecessor.
‘President Ruto is saying because he is a people’s servant he wants to express and live transparently, it can be good if that can be published how much it costs to fly Kenya Airways from Nairobi to New York’’ stated Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka while attending a church service yesterday.
The backlash from Kenyans over the President’s decision to use a Ksh 200 million jet prompted him to release a statement on X, justifying why he chose not to fly with Kenya Airways and instead deeming it cheaper to use the private jet.
President Ruto has been advocating for living within our means. With the increase in taxes in the country, Kenyans are hoping for the government to minimise its spending. Many Kenyan citizens are demanding accountability from the government when it comes to taxpayer money.
Kenya Airways, once known as the pride of Africa according to its slogan, continues to struggle due to years of mismanagement, with unfavourable ticket prices being one of the immediate consequences.
Meanwhile, some lawmakers defending the President’s trips argue that the US visit led to attracting investments totalling Ksh 1 trillion for Kenya. The question remains: does the end justify the means?
