The President earlier travelled to Italy and later Switzerland using what was reported to be private means before returning to Kenya.Â
It was on Sunday, May 26 that President William Ruto stirred conversation across different quarters following his explanation on deciding to hire a luxurious private jet to the United States (US) for his visit as compared to flying commercially with Kenya Airways (KQ).
Ruto argued that the jet presented the cheapest option compared to using commercial means, saying on his X account that “As a responsible steward of public resources and in keeping with my determination for us to live within our means and that I should lead from the front in so doing, the cost was less than travelling on KQ.”
However, on Monday morning June 17, the Head of State jetted into the country from Switzerland using…wait for it…a Kenya Airways flight.
Here is the video:
The President earlier travelled to Italy and later Switzerland using what was reported to be private means before returning to Kenya.Â
The Head of State was received by Interior CS Kithure Kindiki, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah.Â
Other leaders who received the Head of State were Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot and Kenya Airways Authority (KAA) Chairman Caleb Kositany. Notably, his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, was not present to receive his boss.
Ruto arrived in the country aboard the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. This is one of nine aircraft in KQ’s fleet and despite its smaller size compared to the Boeing 777s operated by other airlines, it is used for long-haul to ultra-long-haul trips from Kenya to various countries including the US.
Features
As per the Kenya Airways website, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner is known for its passenger comfort and advanced cabin features. Here are some of the notable cabin features and passenger comfort enhancements one can expect on this aircraft:
- Cabin Pressurization and Humidity:Â The 787-8 has a lower cabin altitude and higher humidity levels compared to older aircraft. This can help reduce passenger fatigue and discomfort during long flights.
- Quieter Cabin:Â The engines on the 787-8 are designed to be quieter, resulting in a more peaceful cabin environment with reduced noise levels.
- Enhanced Lighting: The cabin lighting in the 787-8 can be adjusted to simulate different times of day. This can help reduce jet lag and make long flights more comfortable for passengers.
President William Ruto jets into Kenya from Switzerland on June 17, 2024. /PCS
- Spacious Interior: The 787-8’s interior design creates a sense of spaciousness, with larger overhead storage bins and a wider cabin.
- Improved Air Quality: The 787-8’s advanced air filtration system helps maintain a cleaner cabin environment by removing airborne particles, allergens, and odours.
- Ergonomic Seating: “Kenya Airways is dedicated to ensuring a superior travel experience for its passengers, and this commitment extends to the seating and comfort options available on its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft. By carefully considering ergonomic seating and innovative cabin design, Kenya Airways aims to enhance passenger well-being during both short and long-haul flights,” KQ explains.
President Ruto departed for the G7 Summit in Italy on Thursday, June 13, before later joining other world leaders for the Summit on Peace in Ukraine held at Bürgenstock, Switzerland.
Following criticism over his decision to fly with private means compared to using commercial, President Ruto on Thursday, May 30 narrated how he came to hire the luxurious plane he used to travel to the US, as he revealed that the aircraft cost taxpaying Kenyans about Ksh10 million.
“When I was told the cheapest plane was Ksh70 million, I told my office to go book Kenya Airways.
“Some friends asked me, ‘how much do you want to pay?’ Then I said I was not ready to pay more than Ksh20 million. They said, ‘bring Ksh10 million and we will give you the plane,'” the president remarked.
Ruto assured Kenyans that he was frugal in his spending, affirming that there was no world in which he was reported to spend Ksh200 million for the trip to the US.
While an attempt to get a comment from Kenya Airways by Viral Tea was fruitless, Ruto’s decision to use KQ came after Gachagua on June 12 boarded a Kenya Airways flight to Mombasa at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) carrying a blue suitcase himself.
On Tuesday, March 26, KQ posted an operating profit of Ksh10.5 billion for the first time since 2017 for the year ended December 31, 2023, a turn-around from an operating loss of Ksh5.6 billion in 2022, a 287% growth.
