President William Ruto, known for his fine taste for aviation refinement, departed for Angola in unmistakable style, boarding an exquisite Embraer EMB-135BJ Legacy 650 private jet.
In photos and videos seen by TNX Africa, the Head of State was received in Luanda by senior officials from President João Lourenço’s government, flanked by a vibrant ceremonial military parade.
Looming behind him on the tarmac was the sleek Embraer Legacy 650, its polished fuselage gleaming under the Angolan sun, and carrying the registration T7-JET.
The aircraft stood like a statement piece, a symbol of executive-class aviation and the prestige associated with presidential travel.
Independent flight data from tracking services Flightradar24 and FlightAware confirm that a jet, matching that exact model and registration, departed Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) at around 1:15 pm and touched down at Luanda’s Quatro de Fevereiro Airport (LAD) at precisely 5:00 pm (3:00 pm WAT) on November 24.
This also aligns with a communique released earlier by State House spokesperson Hussein Mohammed.
“President William Ruto departs this afternoon for Luanda, Angola, for two key engagements: The 7th African Union-European Union Summit and the Second Session of the Ad Hoc Oversight Committee on African Union Institutional Reform, which he will chair as the AU Champion for Institutional Reform,” Hussein wrote in an X post.
Inside the Embraer Legacy 650
Manufactured in Brazil and introduced in 2010, the Legacy 650 is celebrated by aviation enthusiasts for combining long-range capability with executive luxury.
The aircraft offers a nonstop range of 3,900 nautical miles (7,220 km), an increased payload capacity of 2,500 lbs (1,134 kg), and improvements such as a lowered aisle and enhanced cabin headroom, all hallmarks of a more comfortable journey.
On the exterior, the plane is clad in overall white with Royal Blue and Las Vegas Gold stripes, making a neat royal statement.
Inside, the aircraft reveals its full splendour.
The cabin is divided into three distinct zones, configurable for lounging, dining, or sleeping.
It features noise-cancelling technology, plush fully adjustable seats, in-flight Wi-Fi, and full HD entertainment powered by Honeywell’s Ovation Select system.
The jet also boasts the largest cabin, galley, and lavatory in its class, a design choice clearly aimed at travellers who expect a refined experience in the skies.
The cockpit equally mirrors this sophistication.
Fitted with Honeywell’s Primus Elite avionics suite, the flight deck features high-resolution glass displays, ergonomic seating, fly-by-wire controls, and an auto-brake system.
Safety systems include Honeywell’s Smart Landing and Smart Runway features, an Enhanced Vision System (EVS), and a Head-Up Display (HUD) for improved situational awareness.
Louis Hardiman, an aircraft analyst with Simple Flying, notes that Embraer introduced the Legacy 650 at the 2009 National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention as the upgraded successor to the Legacy 600.
“The 650's performance upgrades resulted from more powerful jets and a greater fuel capacity, with an ability to haul 1060 kg more fuel than the 600. It is also equipped with Rolls-Royce AE 3007A2 engines, producing a little over 1,000 lbs more thrust each,” Hardiman writes.
In effect, the 650’s upgrades translate to longer range, stronger climb performance, and greater operational versatility, all qualities prized in long-haul executive travel.
Who owns the T7-JET?
Across multiple aircraft registry platforms, ownership of the San Marino-registered T7-JET remains vague and is listed simply as ‘private’ or ‘unknown.’
Only scattered clues exist about its past, with LAAS International citing earlier registrations including N908SK, N1184U, G-WIRG, and PR-LBY. These details, however, are not independently verifiable.
One aviation site suggested that the aircraft belongs to Jet Aviation, but a thorough review of the company’s fleet catalogue does not list the jet.
What is clear, however, is that the Legacy 650 does not come cheap.
According to FlyCraft, a used model costs at least Sh2.3 billion ($18 million), while charters average around Sh1.1 million ($7,700) per hour; placing it firmly in the billionaire territory.
This trip now marks President Ruto’s second time in two months flying aboard a chartered private jet for official duties.
In September, he travelled to Ethiopia aboard a Gulfstream V, whose hourly charter rate was estimated at a staggering Sh2.6 million.
At the time, the official presidential jet, the Fokker 70 ER christened Harambee One, had been grounded in the Netherlands for extensive maintenance.
Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya, in an interview with Nation, confirmed that the aircraft is undergoing its final year-long service at Fokker Services Group facilities.
According to Tuya, the manufacturer has recommended that the aircraft, now nearing three decades in service, be retired entirely due to unsustainable maintenance costs and scarcity of parts.
"For now it (Presidential jet) is out of the country for maintenance for one year. We expect it back in 2026," Tuya said.
She added that once it returns, the government will make a final decision on its decommissioning and the procurement of a new presidential aircraft.
"We do not have any concrete plans right now (on buying a new plane). Right now we are using different options like other VIP aircraft from the Kenya Air Force, commercial flights like Kenya Airways and sometimes chartering. Those short term arrangements are not sustainable," Ms Tuya added.
The replacement of Harambee One, first acquired by Kenya in 1996 under President Daniel arap Moi, could take shape within the next two years, subject to Defence Ministry budget allocations.
Photos: Courtesy of aircraft.com
