A new revelation has come to light regarding why President William Ruto’s aircraft always makes a stop in Egypt whenever he is flying to Europe.
According to Wednesday’s report by the Standard newspaper, the aircraft being used by the president operates on outdated technology, and this limits how far it can travel without refueling. The source explained that the aircraft can only cover up to 3,074 kilometers before needing to refuel, which is not enough to make a direct trip to most European countries.
A screenshot from today ‘s standard publication depicting the conditions of President William Ruto’s official Jet.
Because of this limitation, every time the president is headed to Europe, a stopover in Egypt becomes necessary to allow the plane to refuel before proceeding.
This information has sparked fresh concerns among Kenyans about the state of aviation equipment being used by government officials. It is especially worrying now as the country marks one year since the tragic chopper crash that killed Chief of Defence Forces Francis Ogolla and others.
A chopper wreckage from the crash that killed General Francis Ogolla and nine others.
That accident left a big scar in the hearts of many Kenyans, and it raised serious questions about the safety and maintenance of aircraft used in both military and government operations. With the recent news that even the presidential aircraft is limited in range due to outdated systems, more people are beginning to connect the dots.
Some experts have already begun questioning how many other government aircraft are operating with similar or worse limitations. They argue that if the head of state is using a jet that cannot even reach Europe without stopping for fuel, then it is highly likely that other aircraft, especially those used in local travel like military choppers, may also be outdated or poorly maintained.
This raises real fears over the safety of senior officials and citizens who depend on air travel in emergencies or official duties.
The tragedy that took CDF Ogolla’s life was blamed on various factors, including weather and possible mechanical failure. However, no conclusive public report was released to explain exactly what went wrong.
President William Samoei Ruto boarding to Burundi to attend the 23rd COMESA Summit on October 31, 2024. PHOTO/PCS.
As such, the public is left with more questions than answers. Now, with the new information about the presidential aircraft, there is growing belief that the problem may be bigger than previously assumed. It could be a sign of deeper issues in procurement, maintenance, and oversight of government aviation assets.
As Kenyans reflect on the loss of CDF Ogolla and others who perished in that crash, this latest revelation is a painful reminder of the need for urgent reforms in how the state manages aircraft. Many are calling for a serious audit of all government-owned aircraft to ensure they meet modern standards of safety, efficiency, and reliability.
The fact that the president himself must stop in Egypt to refuel because of outdated technology only adds to the growing sense that much more needs to be done to fix the country’s aviation sector.
