This archive report was first published on 27 October 2019.
President Uhuru Kenyatta's recent trips to Japan and Russia have sparked controversy after it emerged that he hired a private jet from a Dubai company at a staggering cost of $1.8 million per hour.
According to reports, the Airbus A318-112 Elite A6-CAS, which belongs to a Dubai-based company, landed in Mombasa last Sunday at 5:33 pm. The aircraft, which has a wide and tall cabin capable of accommodating up to 19 passengers, boasts luxurious features such as mahogany interiors, pure leather couches, and sparkling bathrooms.
Images of the aircraft reveal a level of comfort that is unmatched in commercial airliners. The plane also features a surround system, DVD player, and LCD TV displays in each zone.
Flight data from Flightradar24.com shows that the A6-CAS plane left Mombasa on October 20 and headed to Almaty Airport in Kazakhstan before proceeding to Tokyo, where it touched down the following day. The plane then left Tokyo for Sochi, Russia, again via Almaty, where President Kenyatta attended the Russia-Africa summit.
Kenya's ambassador to Japan, Solomon Maina, described the President's visit to Japan as a reflection of the strong relationship between Kenya and Japan. However, the decision to hire a private jet at such a high cost has left many Kenyans questioning the extravagance.
Published on October 27, 2019
