Kenya Airways has dismissed a statement making rounds on social media regrading the airline's cost of travel to the United States of America.
The statement, which has now been flagged as fake, purported that it was cheaper to travel to the U.S. using the airline, contradicting President William Ruto's statement over why he dis not use a KQ flight during his state visit to the U.S.
On Sunday, May 26, the Head of State disclosed that the flight he used to the U.S. was cheaper than using a KQ flight.
"Fellow Kenyans, I have noted concerns about my mode of transport to the 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," the president posted on X.
His remarks attracted a lot of mixed reactions from Kenyans, with a section of netizens agreeing with president's statement while others did not.
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The Head of State normally uses the Harambee One presidential jet for foreign visits but while travelling to the U.S., he opted for a chartered jet, a Boeing 737-700 business jet from the Abu Dhabi-based Royal Jet group.
Reports would later emerge that hiring a similar bird costs Ksh100 million for a one-way trip that carries 34 passengers and a return journey would also cost the same amount.
Details showed that the plane could cost more than Ksh2 million per hour and this would vary depending on routing, scheduling, and number of passengers, among other details.
Following the backlash, the US government denied reports that it had paid for the aircraft used by Ruto and his delegation.
“Just to be clear, the United States of America did not pay for President Ruto’s jet to the US,” an official from the US Embassy disclosed in an earlier statement.
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