UAE's Support for Ruto's US Visit Sparks Controversy in Kenya

NAIROBI,Kenya — The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has come under scrutiny in Kenya after providing President William Ruto with an aircraft for his state visit to the United States. In Nairobi, President Ruto praised the UAE as "friends of Kenya," citing the significant cost savings the gesture brought.

According to State House Spokesman Hussein Mohamed, the UAE's offer allowed the Kenyan government to pay just Ksh10 million ($76,923) for the aircraft, a fraction of the Ksh200 million ($1.54 million) it would normally cost. "As explained by the President on Thursday, the cost of the jet he traveled in for the historic and successful US State Visit was offered by friends of Kenya at a relatively low cost. In this specific case, the United Arab Emirates Government offered the aircraft at less than Ksh10 million," Mohamed said.

State House did not elaborate on how the arrangement with the UAE came about, especially since President Ruto had used different aircraft for other official trips recently. This omission has led to questions and criticism from various quarters.

On Friday, the UAE Embassy did not respond to inquiries about the specifics of the transaction. Critics have raised concerns about the nature of the UAE's gesture and its implications for Kenya's foreign policy and independence.

The situation underscores the complex relationship between Kenya and the UAE, a country that can be seen as both a friend and a strategic partner, depending on the perspective. While the cost-saving measure was welcomed by the Kenyan government, it has also sparked a debate about the transparency and motivations behind such international favors.