Ruto jet invoice = 25 140 000

Ruto jet cost Sh18m, says Ndemo

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By LILLIAN ONYANGO laonyango@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Sunday, May 19  2013 at  23:30

IN SUMMARY

• Government denies report air travel for DP, who is touring African countries, will cost the taxpayer Sh100m

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The cost for hiring a luxury jet for Deputy President William Ruto for his trips across Africa was Sh18.5 million, the government has said.

Information and Communication permanent secretary Bitange Ndemo said the plane was hired on a one-off basis and the amount spent was less than that quoted by local companies of Sh19 million during procurement.

However, the Nation obtained an invoice from VistaJet Company to the office of the Deputy President for US$ 300,000 (Sh25 million).

The invoice, as published in the Sunday Nationof May 19, indicates that the payment was an instalment for the first quarter of the year.

Dr Ndemo defended the move to hire a chartered plane, saying, a commercial flight would have cost the taxpayer more as it would entail torturous connection trips to European capitals to get to the different destinations Mr Ruto is headed to.

“According to official records of similar trips in the past, it would have cost up to Sh15 million for a travel to a single country,” Dr Ndemo told a media briefing at Serena Hotel in Nairobi on Sunday.

He denied reports that the plane would cost taxpayers up to $300,000 (Sh25.14 million) every three months. The government also denied reports of a one-year lease between Kenya and VistaJet Company.

“The facility was recommended on the basis of safety and security of the Deputy President as it was used before by the government. Previously, the same facility was hired for a similar trip and cost Sh29 million.”

In his diplomatic visits, Mr Ruto is expected to visit a number of African countries and has so far been to Congo Brazzaville, Gabon, Nigeria and Ghana. The Deputy President on Sunday held talks with Ghanaian President John Mahama as local civil societies criticised the mission.

“This proves that the old attitude and confusion that taxpayers’ money is nobody’s money is still in play,” National Civil Society Congress president Morris Odhiambo said.