Is Kenya benefiting from Dr Ruto’s numerous foreign trips?

By: Joseph Mutua Ndonga

Worth Noting:

• This is normal because apart from shedding more light and reaffirming the position of president the CSs were required to append signatures to the final agreements.
• It is, therefore, wrong for Ruto’s critics to refer them as joy riders. Some of these critics were yet to accept that Ruto is the President of Kenya. This is because they still believe that the elections were not free and fair.
• This is despite the Supreme Court hearing their petition and ruling that it lacked sufficient evidence to nullify Dr Ruto’s victory. As a result, the judges in a unanimous decision upheld the declaration by IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati of Ruto as the president-elect, paving the way for his swearing-in.

Since he assumed the reign of power, President William Ruto has made several foreign trips with latest flying out to DRC Congo and South Korea. These trips have been eliciting mixed reactions here in Kenya and as a political analyst I have been keenly listening to these opinions.

My attention would be mainly drawn to the views of his critics who have been arguing that these trips were unnecessary and not adding any value to our economy.

I would not agree with them. Let me explain why? First, it should be noted that Kenya is a developing country and hence it ought to reach out and work closely with the developed and industrialized nations. This would help to build and boost our economy in a big way.

We saw this happening in 2013 when former President Uhuru Kenyatta won the elections alongside his running mate, the Deputy president William Ruto.

Soon after taking the oath of office, Uhuru embarked on what was widely seen as charming foreign trips. As we know, the outcome of these polls shocked and came as a surprise to some of the world leaders.

This is because they had severally warned Kenyans that Kenya would become pariah state if they elect them.  You know the duo was facing serious charges at the International Criminal Court [ICC]. So we will totally disengage because we cannot work with personalities indicted by this court.

We have been supporting many development initiatives in your country. We will keep them off and transfer these resources to other countries.

Uhuru’s trips would however change this narrative. These leaders would drop their hard line stances and started embracing his administration.

Many of them would honor his invitations to visit Kenya among them US President Barrack Obama, the Prime minister of Italy, President of France and Pope Francis, the head of catholic church in the world.

During these visits, President Uhuru would bilateral agreements with the visiting heads of state and governments tailored to roll out mega development projects in Kenya.

Back to Ruto trips, the benefits supersede by far the cost of flying out with his entourage. He has been travelling a lean delegation of majorly cabinet secretaries in charge of thematic areas of the discussions with his host.

This is normal because apart from shedding more light and reaffirming the position of president the CSs were required to append signatures to the final agreements.

It is, therefore, wrong for Ruto’s critics to refer them as joy riders. Some of these critics were yet to accept that Ruto is the President of Kenya. This is because they still believe that the elections were not free and fair.

This is despite the Supreme Court hearing their petition and ruling that it lacked sufficient evidence to nullify Dr Ruto’s victory. As a result, the judges in a unanimous decision upheld the declaration by IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati of Ruto as the president-elect, paving the way for his swearing-in.

As we know, DRC Congo is endowed with vast minerals and natural resources. So, by visiting this country, there is no doubt that Ruto’s key mission was to explore ways of how Kenya can benefit. We also saw him and his host signing a number of agreements on trade, business, job opportunities and security. In all this, Kenya’s interests would come first.

In South Korea, he signed key agreements that were meant to transform Kenya in a big way. This was in the areas of technology, blue economy, shipping and creation of jobs. He also secured markets for our tea and horticulture.

In Korea, he cracked a joke when he met Kenyans living in this country. I have not come for joy-riding. I’m here for serious business of securing opportunities for my people and tapping on the vast knowledge of Koreans in advancement of technology in our country, Kenya.

The responses from our hosts are fantastic and well meaning. So, Dr Ruto is on the right course. Let us support him.

Joseph Mutua Ndonga is a writer and political commentator based in Nairobi