President William Ruto has stirred fresh controversy on the cost of his recent state visit to the US, with critics demanding full disclosure.
He on Thursday moved to fight off allegations that he splurged Sh200 million on the trip at a time Kenyans are going through tough economic times.
The head of state in defending his visit, said his unnamed friends footed the bill, leaving only less than Sh10 million to be charged on the taxpayers money.
There has been heated public debate, with Kenyans questioning the logic of spending millions on a chartered plane instead of using the "cheaper option" - the national carrier, Kenya Airways.
Ruto insisted he would not allow taxpayers millions to be spent on the US trip at a time his administration is pushing for austerity measures.
He said after realising it would cost an arm and a leg to charter a private jet, he resorted to Kenya Airways before his unnamed friends intervened and waived the cost.
"There is no way I can spend Sh200 million. Let me disclose here that it cost the Republic of Kenya less than Sh10 million," he said.
“I am not a mad man, when I was told that the cheapest plane was Sh70 million, I told my office go book Kenya Airways.”
The President said his friends, who got wind of his predicament, gave him the plane at a subsidised cost of Sh10 million, cheaper than amount charged by Kenya Airways.
"When some friends of mine heard that I was going to travel using Kenya Airways and we have built a big reputation as a country and we have built friends, they asked me how much do you want to pay? I said I was not ready to pay more than Sh20 million. They said bring Sh10 million we'll give you the plane," Ruto said.
Hiring an entire KQ plane means paying for all available seats and this would bring the total cost of going to the US and back to Sh79,334,370.
There are additional costs to it including the parking fees and the number of days one would spend with the plane, which would also be factored in the final price of hiring.
There is also the take-off and landing taxes added to the amount.
The President travelled to the US aboard an A6-RJU royal jet, which he also used on his return journey.
The state visit to the US was on the invitation of President Joe Biden.
The royal jet used by the President had a capacity of 34 seats and multiple reports estimate the cost of hiring a Boeing business jet like the one Ruto used in his visit to the US, oscillates around $18,000 per hour, roughly Sh2,358,000.
Additional costs such as parking fees, days spent with it and landing and take-off taxes mean the total cost will rise.
Speaking at the morning prayers attended by his deputy Rigathi Gachagua, the President said he is conscious of the austerity measures even as he calls on leaders to tighten their belts.
He urged Kenyans to end the debate, insisting he is responsible.
"Look at me Kenyans, I must lead from the front... And it will remain that way as I tell others to tighten their belts. The debate must end because I am that responsible, " Ruto said.
But his critics-mainly opposition MPs-are questioning the explanation. They are accusing him of being economical with the truth.
Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi told the Star the President must make full disclosure on the identity of the friends and how much they paid for the trip.
The senator also wants the President to publicly explain the interest of the friends in the US tour.
“That admission in itself is a very serious matter because the President of a country is the property of the republic of Kenya, who cannot be left at the whims of friends,” Osotsi told the Star.
“The President was not travelling to the US in his private capacity but in his capacity as the President and therefore that admission that the plane was hired by friends is questionable and goes against best practices on presidential management.”
ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna too demanded full disclosure. He said Kenyans have the right to be told about those who paid for the President’s jet.
“The President is obviously lying after being cornered,” he said.
The breakfast prayers meeting was attended by Speakers Moses Wetang'ula (National Assembly), Amason Kingi (Senate), a host of MPs and top government officials.
Ruto also reiterated his commitment to take the country out of the debt hole. He said Kenya is not in default of any of its debt obligations.
Going forward, he said the country will be operating on a balanced budget lauding his economic advisers, led by David Ndii.
“In the next three years we must have a balanced budget, we cannot have a deficit that before you begin you must borrow," Ruto said.
He said he has instructed everyone in government that it is where Kenya is headed.