The president of Kenya, William Ruto, said that the private plane that used to fly to the United States last week only cost about 10 million chelines ($ 73,000; £ 60,000), after criticism that it was being extravagant.
He said that “some friends” of the country offered him at that price when he had chosen to use the national airline to save money.
He said that “in no way” could have spent around $ 1.5 million, the figure that was reported that it had costs to hire the VIP Boeing 737-700 aircraft.
“I’m not crazy,” he said, speaking at a national prayer breakfast event in Nairobi on Thursday.
But comments have caused a more violent reaction, with some Kenyans online asking who friends are.
In statement later at nightThe presidency said that the United Arab Emirates (EAU) had offered to help pay the plane.
“This is how nations operate, support and associate with each other for mutual prosperity,” he said, citing other donations that EAU and other countries have made to Kenya, including military vehicles and airplanes.
Ruto went to the United States last week in an official state visit of three days, the first trip of this type of an African leader in more than 15 years.
While he was there, Kenya obtained a series of investment agreements worth bills of dollars.
After returning to the country, the president defended himself against concerns about the cost of the trip, saying that the luxury jet he had used It was cheaper than the national airline – Without revealing the quantities.
The critic continued, and some questioned his statement and others saying that Kenia Airways should have used.
On Thursday, the president explained that he was told that the cheapest plane would cost around $ 530,000 and told his office to reserve Kenya Airways for him and his entourage of approximately 30 people.
But when some friends heard that he was going to travel on a commercial flight, they asked him how much he was willing to pay for a hired plane, he said.
“We have built a great reputation as a country and we have built friends … I said that I was not ready to pay more than ($ 153 million). They said to bring ($ 73,000) we will give you the plane,” explained the president.
He insisted that he was not going to allow the misuse of taxpayers money. “I must lead from the front while I tell others to press their belt, mine must be where it starts.”
“So relax and the debate must end,” he said.
But the debate is not over and some Kenyans online are asking if it was appropriate to accept the offer.
“If it was a gift from an external source, it comes with some geopolitical implications. Without free lunch, ”said Mwangi Maina.
The row continues about government spending has emerged amid the concerns that the government has been using taxpayers money to finance extravagance, which officials have regularly denied.
Since he came to power in 2022, Routo has increased several taxes and imposed new, angry at many Kenyans.
