This archive report was first published on 31 October 2019.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has been on a whirlwind of foreign trips, making 31 visits in just 21 months since taking office in 2013. This already makes him the most traveled Kenyan President in history.
As the President continues his travels, State House Chief of Staff Nzioka Waita has come out to defend the head of state's trips, saying they are essential for positioning Kenya as a force for good and a thought leader in the international community.
According to Nzioka Waita, one of President Kenyatta's key duties is to sell Kenya to international investors and advance the country's agenda. He believes that foreign travel is a crucial part of this role.
President Kenyatta's latest trip took him to Japan, where he witnessed the enthronement of the new emperor on October 22, 2019. He later attended the inaugural Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi, Russia.
As the country grapples with a debt burden, critics have called for austerity measures. However, Nzioka Waita remains confident that the President's foreign trips will ultimately benefit Kenyans.
