Before President William Ruto left the country for Azerbaijan on a chartered luxury private jet on Saturday, there were all indications that a nationwide strike called by transporters would cripple the country on Monday.
He left without a word on the looming crisis. A few hours after he landed in the capital, Baku, on Sunday morning, officials of associations related to petroleum products users called a press conference in Nairobi to announce that the strike was still on. One of the most vocal of these is the Matatu Owners Association.
President Ruto is in Baku to attend the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF), where Kenya was invited in recognition of its leadership and success in affordable housing and sustainable urban development.
Protesters burn tyres in Kitengela during demonstrations against rising fuel prices.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation
As the strike began on Monday morning, the contrast of Kenyans stranded at bus termini or walking to work and the President’s chartered luxury jet could not have been starker. His social media pages also did not address the crisis that was unfolding, only posting about his engagements in Baku.
The taxpayer possibly forked out at least Sh37 million on the jet to Baku in Azerbaijan. The Boeing 737-8DV (BBJ2) – will cost the taxpayer even more when other expenses to maintain his delegation are factored in.
Manufactured in September 2001, the luxury jet is one of the most sought-after large VIP jets in the world and can fly between 19 and 50 guests.
According to Flight Radar, the aircraft flew from Nairobi – Jomo Kenyatta International Airport – to Baku on May 16, 2026, at 9.18 pm and landed in the European country on May 17 at 5.05 am with the flight time recorded as seven hours and 47 minutes.
On arrival, the President and First Lady Mama Rachel Ruto were received by Azerbaijan's Minister of Defence Industry Vuqar Mustafayev, and Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Kenya Sultan Hajiyev.
Taking the lower cost of $18,000 per hour and an exchange rate of Sh129 to the US dollar, the cost of a one-way trip from Nairobi to Baku is approximately Sh18.57 million.
Protesters burn tyres in Kitengela during demonstrations against rising fuel prices.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation
Assuming that the President will use the same jet on the return trip, the cost implication on the taxpayer will be Sh37.14 million.
The site adds that the jet is built for heads of state, business moguls and VIP travellers as it offers top-tier comfort, describing the airliner as an epitome of airborne sophistication and exclusive experience.
Nation could not find the identity of the owner of the luxury jet by the time of going to press. However, flight radar records showed that the Boeing 737-8DV (BBJ2) aircraft is registered to a private owner in San Marino.
It is still not clear who will bear the cost of chartering the private jet, whether it is the taxpayer or the President himself, with State House guarded on the finer details of the expenditure.
It is also not lost on the public that during a similar backlash in May 2024, when President Ruto used a private jet to fly to the US, he defended himself, saying he spent only Sh10 million for the round trip, saving taxpayers millions of shillings in the process.
According to the President, “some friends” of the country offered to fund his trip when he had opted to fly a commercial flight in order to save the country money, with the cheapest flight costing $530,000.
He said the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had offered to help pay for the jet when they heard he was going to travel on a commercial flight aboard Kenya Airways for himself and his entourage of about 30 people.
“I am not a mad man. I said I was not ready to pay more than $153 million. They said bring $73,000 we will give you the plane,” he explained during the year’s National Prayer breakfast.
“I must lead from the front as I tell others to tighten their belt, mine must be where it begins.”
According to a statement issued by State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed, President Ruto will travel to Astana, Kazakhstan, from Baku on a State Visit focused on trade, logistics, energy, technology, tourism, financial services, and labour mobility.
Convened by UN-Habitat, WUF13 will bring together governments, investors, cities, civil society, and development partners to address the global housing crisis and advance sustainable urban development.
“Kenya will showcase the impact of its Affordable Housing Programme in transforming informal settlements, creating jobs, and supporting entrepreneurship,” said Mr Mohamed.
“The Forum will also provide an opportunity for Kenya to mobilise partnerships and investments to expand and scale the Affordable Housing Programme and urban renewal initiatives, including the Nairobi Rivers Regeneration Programme.”
Questions surrounding the Azerbaijan trip come amid concerns that the government has been using taxpayers' money to fund extravagance while Kenyans are grappling with the high cost of living.
While appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Defence, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei revealed that the department has already overspent its budget for State visits by Sh400 million blowing up Sh2.2 billion during the current financial year against a budget of Sh1.8 billion approved by Parliament.
Despite existing austerity measures on local and foreign travel, a report by the Office of the Controller of Budget – covering the first six months of the financial year ending June 30, 2026 – revealed that the Executive Office of the President spent Sh1.165 billion on foreign travel.
Between September 2022 and 2025, President Ruto made at least 88 international trips.
