- President Ruto flew to Addis Ababa on a Gulfstream Aerospace GV, operated by Skymark Executive.
- The jet is based at JKIA and serves high-end regional VIP charters.
- This comes after past uproar over Ruto’s use of foreign private jets despite austerity calls.
- Kenya spent KSh 25.46 billion on executive travel in one year, above promised cuts.
- The debate continues whether Kenya should buy modern VIP jets or scale down on luxury travel.
President William Ruto arrived in Addis Ababa aboard a Gulfstream Aerospace GV operated by Skymark Executive (SMB). The 18-seater luxury jet, with tail number T7-VVV, is stationed at JKIA to meet rising demand for VIP charters in the region. Its cabin is fitted with leather seats and premium fittings for maximum comfort, making it one of the most exclusive jets available in Africa.
This is not the first time the President’s choice of air travel has been questioned. In 2023, Ruto faced heavy criticism after chartering a Boeing 737-700 business jet from Dubai during his state visit to the U.S. Reports claimed the trip cost taxpayers tens of millions of shillings. Ruto defended the decision, saying the real cost was lower and security needs ruled out commercial flights.
The Addis Ababa flight comes at a time when the Controller of Budget, Dr. Margaret Nyakang’o, has flagged “excessive executive travel.” Her latest report shows the government spent Ksh 2. 5.46 billion on local and foreign trips between July 2024 and June 2025. This was only a small cut from the previous year, falling far short of Ruto’s 2022 pledge to slash the travel budget by half.
Parliament has also been drawn into the matter before. National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah once suggested upgrading Kenya’s official VIP jets, calling the current fleet outdated and unreliable. While some MPs supported the idea for security reasons, others dismissed it as wasteful spending.
With Ruto once again flying private, Kenyans are left wondering: should the state buy new VIP aircraft to avoid costly rentals, or should the president lead by example and cut back on executive luxuries in line with austerity promises?
