The actual cost of President William Ruto's 48 foreign trips over the last 15 months has emerged, the Star can report.
The details came to light as Ruto shrugged off criticism, saying he was not traveling aimlessly as a tourist but with a plan to create value for the Kenyan taxpayer.
“You have heard I traveled this world, to many countries. I have traveled for a purpose. I’m not a tourist. I have traveled for a purpose,” the President said at a church service in Lari constituency, Kiambu county.
“For this country to develop there must be a plan and leadership. That is why, even as we talk today, our CS for Labour is in Saudi Arabia because we want to plan on how our youth will get jobs everywhere.”
An analysis of Controller of Budget reports since Ruto ascended to power in September last year shows that the presidency has expended Sh357 million on foreign travel alone.
Ruto has been to 48 countries, the last being Djibouti on Saturday.