This archive report was first published on 10 July 2020.
On July 9, 2020, President Uhuru Kenyatta went all out to ensure a comfortable and luxurious return for ODM leader Raila Odinga, who was recovering from a successful surgery in Dubai.
According to reports, the President hired a luxurious private jet, Airbus A318-112 (CJ) Elite A6-CAS, MS4211, to pick Odinga and bring him back home, despite international flights being suspended at the time.
The 19-seater plane, which boasts a mahogany interior, an entourage lounge, a VIP dining and lounge area, a private office, and a VIP bedroom, left Kenya on July 9, 2020, with ODM deputy leader Hassan Joho and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed aboard.
After a 5-hour flight, the entourage landed in Dubai, where they met the AU special envoy for infrastructure and delivered messages of goodwill.
As seen in a video shared on social media, Raila Odinga tweeted about the visit, saying, "Received a visit from Governor Hassan Joho and National Assembly Minority Whip Junet Mohammed."
The luxury private jet ride came at a hefty price of Ksh 1.3 Million per hour, making the five-hour flight to Dubai cost Ksh 6.5 million. A round trip would have cost Ksh 13 million, excluding additional costs such as food, beverages, and entertainment.
