Kenya Airways Dismisses Statement Showing It Could've Cost Ruto Over KSh 34m To Fly To US

• President William Ruto's US trip costs continued to spark debate among Kenyans for the better part of the weekend
• Ruto defended his course, saying that the flight on the national carrier, Kenya Airways, would have cost more
• KQ declined reports doing rounds on social media that the flight would have cost more than KSh 34 million

TUKO.co.ke journalist Wycliffe Musalia brings over five years of experience in financial, business, and technology reporting, offering deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.

Kenya Airways has dismissed claims that President William Ruto's flight to the US would have cost over KSh 34 million.

This followed a public uproar after Ruto hired a Royal Jet VIP plane at an estimated cost of KSh 200 million.

Claim: Cost of KQ business class ticket to US

A statement making the rounds on social media claimed that a KQ business class ticket to New York costs KSh 400,000 to KSh 600,000.

It further argued that Ruto's entourage, with all 30 delegations aboard the business class, would have cost more than KSh 34 million.

The national carrier flagged the statement dated May 26, 2024, as fake.

Is KQ VIP trip to US expensive?

A spot check by TUKO.co.ke showed that a business class flight ticket from Nairobi to New York costs around KSh 847,715 per trip.

Meanwhile, Ruto defended the cost of the private plane he used to the United States of America.

The head of state, while responding to criticism, said it would have been more expensive had he used a Kenya Airways plane.

"... 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," said Ruto.

However, the president's remarks attracted fury from Kenyans, who doubted the factual basis of Ruto's explanation.

Which flight did Ruto use for US trip?

Ruto's state visit to the United States marks the first visit by a Kenyan president to the U.S. in twenty years.

Unlike his usual travel on the official Kenyan presidential jet, a Fokker 70 ER, the president opted for a larger and more modern A6 RJU BBJ for this trip.

His trip's aim was to attract significant investment to Kenya, with plans for his entourage to pitch over 30 business ideas to potential investors during his visit.

What to know about Ruto's Royal VIP Jet

• The head of state boarded a private jet owned by an Abu Dhabi family, which is capable of flying 10 to 12 hours nonstop.
• Ruto said he is a responsible steward of public resources and is committed to ensuring that Kenyans live within their means.

Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke

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Kenya Airways declined comparing Ruto's flight cost from Nairobi to US using the private jet.

Kenya Airways Dismisses Statement Showing it Could've Cost Ruto Over

Kenya Airways Dismisses Statement Showing it Could've Cost Ruto Over