Ruto's Sh2 billion private jet to Angola

President William Ruto addressing during the State Funeral Service for the late  Former Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga at the Nyayo National Stadium on October 17, 2025. Raila passed on in India while undergoing  treatment.[Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Despite the cash crunch strangling many Kenyan households, the country continues to reveal a different picture altogether, one where money flows freely, gleaming in the pockets of politicians and the well-connected.

And nothing captures this paradox more vividly than President William Ruto’s latest departure, executed with the elegance of a man unbothered by the cost of the ride.

President Ruto, long associated with a taste for high-end aviation comfort, flew to Angola aboard an Embraer EMB-135BJ Legacy 650, a private jet valued at approximately Sh2 billion.

In photos and videos seen by The Nairobian, Ruto touched down in Luanda to an elaborate reception from senior officials in President João Lourenço’s government, complete with a ceremonial military parade splashed across the tarmac.

Towering behind him was the sleek Legacy 650, registration T7-JET, its polished exterior shimmering under the Angolan sun like a piece of airborne jewellery.

The aircraft appeared less like a mode of transport and more like a declaration of power, prestige, and the opulence that accompanies presidential movement.

According to one source who spoke on condition of anonymity, “There's only one person that owns it in Kenya, and it is in a private category.” The source further disclosed that the aircraft’s owner does not charter the plane.

Independent flight data from Flightradar24 and FlightAware confirmed a jet matching that exact description left Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 1:15pm and touched down at Luanda’s Quatro de Fevereiro Airport at 5:00pm (3:00pm WAT) on November 24.

This aligned seamlessly with a communique issued 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.

At the summit, Ruto joined fellow leaders in reviewing two decades of Africa-Europe cooperation, tackling shifting geopolitical priorities, funding gaps and mounting security challenges.

Ruto also chaired the African Union Institutional Reform Ad Hoc Committee Meeting of Heads of State while in Luanda, expanding the significance of the visit.

Manufactured in Brazil and introduced in 2010, the Legacy 650 is admired for transforming long-distance travel into an executive sanctuary. It offers a nonstop range of 3,900 nautical miles (7,220 km), a payload capacity of 2,500 lbs (1,134 kg), and cabin upgrades such as enhanced headroom and a lowered aisle for improved comfort.

Its white exterior, layered with royal blue and Las Vegas gold stripes, gives it a regal finish.

Inside, the aircraft delivers its true charm: a three-zone cabin adaptable for lounging, dining, or sleeping.

Travellers enjoy noise-cancelling technology, 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.

Upfront, the cockpit mirrors this premium experience with Honeywell’s Primus Elite avionics, high-resolution glass displays, ergonomic seating, and fly-by-wire controls.

Safety features include Smart Landing, Smart Runway, an Enhanced Vision System and a Head-Up Display for enhanced situational awareness.

Louis Hardiman of Simple Flying explains that Embraer unveiled the Legacy 650 in 2009 as an upgrade to the Legacy 600.

“The 650s' 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,” he writes.

Across aircraft registry platforms, the ownership of T7-JET remains elusive, recorded simply as ‘private’ or ‘unknown.’ LAAS International lists earlier registrations such as N908SK, N1184U, G-WIRG and PR-LBY, though these cannot be independently verified.

One aviation website suggested Jet Aviation as a possible owner, but a review of the company’s fleet catalogue shows no such listing.

What is indisputable is the jet’s price tag. FlyCraft values a used Legacy 650 at nothing less than Sh2.3 billion ($18 million), while charters average Sh1.1 million ($7,700) per hour, clearly a realm reserved for the ultra-wealthy.

This marks President Ruto’s second private jet charter in two months. In September, he travelled to Ethiopia aboard a Gulfstream V, a jet commanding an estimated charter rate of Sh2.6 million per hour.

Introduced in 1997, the Gulfstream V revolutionised private aviation with its 6,500-nautical-mile range, linking cities such as New York and Tokyo nonstop.

At that time, the official presidential jet, the Fokker 70 ER known as Harambee One, was grounded in the Netherlands for extensive maintenance.

Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya confirmed that the servicing, spanning one year, is its final overhaul.

With the aircraft nearing 30 years in service, the manufacturer now recommends full retirement due to escalating maintenance costs and scarce 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 discussions regarding possible decommissioning and procurement of a replacement will follow.

“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,” Tuya added.

Harambee One, acquired during President Daniel arap Moi’s tenure in 1996 at a controversial Sh2.7 billion, has a long history of mechanical issues.

In February 2002, its hydraulic systems failed just before take-off to the Commonwealth Summit in Australia, jamming the aircraft door. President Moi, already onboard, waited 20 minutes before disembarking as Air Force technicians ferried spare parts from Moi Airbase.

A similar embarrassment unfolded this year during the Joint EAC-SADC Summit on February 8, 2025. President Ruto was preparing to depart when Harambee One once again developed mechanical issues.

As engineers frantically attempted repairs, other heads of state departed, leaving the Kenyan president to delay his return by an entire night.

The Fokker Company began developing the Fokker 70 in 1992 to replace the F28. However, financial trouble forced the company into bankruptcy just four years later. The last unit was delivered in April 1997.

Only 47 aircraft were ever produced, with 42 still in operation globally, including Kenya’s.

The Fokker 70 ER, designed for short-haul travel, was first produced in 1993. Kenya acquired one of these rare units despite the manufacturer shutting down soon after.

Powered by two Rolls-Royce engines, the aircraft cruises at 845 kilometres per hour with a range of 3,850 kilometres for the extended-range variant, still firmly within short-haul limits.