President William Ruto is concluding his two-day state visit to Germany, during which he signed several job agreements, including one on migration and mobility. This marks Ruto’s 66th foreign trip in his two-year presidency, double the number of trips made by the late President Mwai Kibaki over his entire 10-year tenure.
Often referred to as the “flying president” due to the frequency of his travels, Ruto has made an average of three foreign trips per month. His latest visit to Germany added to his growing record of frequent flights.
During his stay in Berlin, Ruto attended the signing of the Kenya-Germany Agreement on Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership, along with the annual Citizens Festival. “We will again sign another one for mobility between Germany and Kenya. We are the gateway to Africa… we have signatories to the Africa Continental Free Trade Area that opens the African market,” he stated while in Berlin.
Many of Ruto’s trips have sparked criticism from taxpayers. His state visit to the United States in May 2024 drew particular attention, not for the purpose of the trip, but for its luxury. The president, who campaigned as the “Chief Hustler,” arrived at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport aboard a chartered Boeing 737-700 Boeing Business Jet operated by Royal Jet of Dubai.
The cost of hiring such a jet typically exceeds Ksh.200 million, with a one-way trip from Nairobi to Atlanta estimated at Ksh.98 million. Amid public outrage over the expense, especially given Ruto’s emphasis on austerity, the president defended the trip, stating that Kenya Airways would have been more expensive. He later claimed that his friends from the UAE had covered the costs.
“You know I’m a very responsible citizen. Believe me, there is no way I could spend Ksh.200 million. In fact, it cost the Republic of Kenya less than Ksh.10 million,” Ruto said on May 30, 2024. Despite his claims, efforts to verify these details have been unsuccessful, leading to frustration among Kenyans who accuse the president of living lavishly while calling for austerity measures.
On April 7, 2024, Ruto remarked, “We must tell ourselves the truth; the time has come for us to live within our means.”
During the two-month-long Gen Z-led protests against the Finance Bill of 2024, President Ruto’s frequent foreign travels slowed considerably. He made only one trip to Rwanda a month ago to attend the swearing-in of President Paul Kagame, marking a 58-day period where he remained in Kenya. His most recent trip was a week-long visit to China for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit.
Compared to his predecessors, Ruto’s travel record is unparalleled. Former President Mwai Kibaki made only 33 foreign trips during his 10 years in office, while Ruto has already doubled that in just two years. Former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who undertook 151 trips in his decade-long presidency, also falls behind Ruto, who is nearly halfway there after only two years.
At his current pace of about three trips per month, Ruto could potentially make 180 trips by the end of his five-year term, raising concerns about the cost to taxpayers. Despite the criticism, Ruto insists that the benefits of his travels far outweigh the expenses.
