Raila Claims President Ruto Spent Sh200 Million to Attend Queen Elizabeth's Funeral in England

Azimio La Umoja party leader Raila Odinga has questioned the source of funds for President Ruto’s recent foreign trips even though he claims they found empty coffers when they assumed office last month.

Odinga, who spoke at a roadside rally while engaging residents in Ruaraka and Mathare constituencies on Wednesday, claimed President Ruto has spent hundreds of millions of shillings on international trips since his inauguration on September 13th, including Sh200 million on attending Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in England. 

“They say they found the government treasury bankrupt. In the same month, they went to Europe to bury the Queen, they spent Sh200 million, where did that come from? They have gone to Ethiopia, Uganda, and Tanzania. These people are not to be trusted at all,” Raila said.

Ruto flew to England to attend the late Queen Elizabeth’s burial a week after his inauguration, then traveled to the United States where he attended and addressed the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

On October 6th, the president left for Ethiopia on what was his first official visit to Africa where he held bilateral talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

A day later, Ruto flew to Uganda to attend the country’s 60th independence day celebrations on an invitation from Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. He then traveled to Tanzania last Sunday where he held bilateral talks with President Samia Suluhu.