National carrier Kenya Airways has distanced itself from a statement circulating online, particularly in response to President William Ruto’s travel to the United States (U.S).
The fake statement was purportedly written by Kenya Airways Group Managing Director and CEO Allan Kilavuka on Sunday, May 26 sharing comparative costs of flying with the airline.
This would have been seen as a contradiction to President Ruto’s statement, which defended his travel aboard a private jet compared to using the national carrier.
Earlier in the day, the Head of State released a statement on social media, addressing concerns from Kenyans about the ‘high’ cost of his travel to the U.S where he just concluded his four-day State visit.
“Fellow Kenyans, I have noted concerns on my mode of transport to USA. 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,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
This came even as the United States denied funding Ruto’s travel.
“Just to be clear: The United States of America DID NOT pay for President Ruto’s jet to the U.S,” U.S. Embassy-Nairobi spokesperson Andrew Veveiros was quoted as saying.
Kenyans online were however having none of it, claiming Ruto’s administration is on a spending spree while increasing taxes for the people.
Saboti Member of Parliament (MP) Caleb Amisi opined that some of the leaders who accompanied the first in command did not add value to the trip.
“Leaders scrambling to travel with Ruto just to take pictures, post on SM and back home. But if it were coffee, tea, or flower trade exhibition, they would be busy attending a funeral.
“What ails African mind? Poverty of Kenya and by extension Africans is in our mind. It starts there. Kenya needs a Renaissance!” he wrote.
Former Defense Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa accused Ruto of preaching water and drinking wine in the matter.
“You cannot say we don’t have money to pay for this, then the taxes you keep raising you are spending these taxes in a luxurious way. What is so special about William Ruto that he must hire such an expensive jet?
“It is also a way of the President failing to market Kenya Airways. Any President who is a patriot must show pride in going with Kenya Airways and flying the Kenyan flag and marketing it to the world,” Wamalwa spoke on Citizen TV.
