President William Ruto sure had an eventful 2024, just like any other year since he took office in 2022.
From duty calls meant to tighten diplomatic ties to high-profile and what was termed ‘extravagant trips’ to superpowers across the world, President Ruto did it all. The Head of State made a total of 22 foreign trips last year.
At some point, Kenyans accustomed to his frequent trips outside the country coined the phrase “If he’s not flying, he’s lying” to describe him.
In January, he visited Uganda for the 42nd IGAD Extraordinary Summit and the Non-Aligned Movement Summit (18-19), then flew to the Democratic Republic of Congo for President Félix Tshisekedi’s swearing-in ceremony. Later, he travelled to Italy for the Italy-Africa Summit (28-30).
President William Ruto departs for a three-day State Visit to Ghana on April 2, 2024
February saw the President in Japan for a State visit, followed by the World Governments Summit in the United Arab Emirates and the 37th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly in Ethiopia. He also attended President Hage Geingob’s funeral in Namibia and had an official meeting in Uganda. In March, Ruto made a single visit to Zanzibar for an official meeting.
The President continued his travels in April, visiting Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe for the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair. May included a State Visit to the United States, as well as a trip to Rwanda for the Africa CEO Summit. In June, Ruto attended the Korea-Africa Summit in South Korea.
In August, he visited Rwanda for President Paul Kagame’s inauguration. In September, the President toured China, Germany, Haiti, and the US for the 79th UN General Assembly. In October, he visited Burundi for the 23rd COMESA Summit, and in November, he travelled to Arusha for the 24th Ordinary Summit of East African Heads of State.
Controversial US Trip
Presidents William Ruto and Joe Biden during his arrival at the White House, May 2024.
Photo
PSC
One of the most memorable trips made by President Ruto in 2024 was his May trip to the United States, which gained controversy over the amount of money spent on the trip.
Accompanied by top government and his family, Ruto is said to have used a whopping Ksh200 million to charter the jet used on the trip.
Despite the intense criticism he faced over not observing austerity measures he frequently preached to other leaders, Ruto’s US trip, which was Kenya’s first in two decades, scored some wins for Kenyans.
After meeting US President Joe Biden, the superpower boss declared that Kenya would be added as a non-member NATO ally. The President also scored several deals with the US, including in the health and education sectors.
The two countries inked a Ksh900 billion deal to help combat the upsurge of HIV/AIDS in the country.
Another Ksh528 million deal was obtained between the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Ministry of Health to foster best practices in information sharing and define steps toward the development and full launch of the Kenyan National Public Health Institute.
In the education sector, the US pledged to provide Ksh435 million for 60 Kenyan learners to undertake a course in Science, Technology, and Mathematics for one semester in the United States.
They also inked a Ksh66 million deal for Partnership 2024 to support the development of Kenyan students, scientists, researchers, and engineers.
Ruto made a tentative trip to the US in September to attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
Germany Trip
President William Ruto arrives in Germany for a diplomatic meeting
Photo
PSC
In a bid to secure more foreign job opportunities for Kenyans, Ruto flew to Germany in September where he supposedly scored 250,000 jobs for Kenyan migrants.
In a surprising twist, however, the German Interior Ministry quickly refuted these claims, stating that there was not a set number agreed upon between President Ruto and German Chancellor Ollaf Scholz.
“This information is clearly false. The agreement between Germany and Kenya does not include any numbers or quotas of trained workers who will have the opportunity to work in Germany,’’ a statement released by the ministry following a report by the BBC on the jobs read in part.
‘’All applicants must fulfill the strict requirements of the German Trained Immigration Act.”
To date, however, the government continues to push for applicants to take advantage of the deal and apply for jobs in the European Country.
China
President William Ruto in a meeting with Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) President and Board of Directors Chairman Jin Liqun, Beijing China, September 3, 2024.
Photo
PCS
Just a day before he flew to China on August 31, China lent Kenya a Ksh40 billion loan set to be directed towards resuscitating stalled infrastructure projects across 15 counties.
On September 1, Ruto jetted out to the Asian nation to score more deals and lead the Kenyan delegation at the 9th Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit.
President Xi Jinping announced a 10-point partnership action plan for Africa for the next three years, which would provide Africa with $50 billion (Sh6.5 trillion) of financial support during the trip.
More pertinent to Kenya was the agreement that China would open up its market for Kenyan agricultural produce and an agreement to discuss regional infrastructure projects such as the expansion of SGR and the Rironi-Mau Summit-Malaba dual carriageway.
Kenya also joined the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) as a fully paid member. AIIB is a multilateral development institution with 109 members and a $100 billion capitalisation.
President William Ruto boarding a plane in the past. PHOTO/ Courtesy.