Back in the sky: Ruto courts the world as Kenya feels abandoned

The day police mounted one of their heaviest responses to anti-government protests, President William Ruto jetted out on his 20th foreign trip this year.

The President boarded a flight to Madagascar for the country’s 66th Independence Day celebrations.

His departure came as security forces battled demonstrators across parts of Kenya, prompting sharp criticism from political analysts and opposition leaders who argue the timing reflected a presidency increasingly detached from domestic crises.

While Ruto has projected himself on the global stage as Kenya’s chief diplomat—courting G7 leaders, securing investment pledges and mediating regional conflicts—critics and many ordinary citizens say he appears disconnected from the economic hardships and security concerns confronting the country.

Some political commentators describe the President as determined to portray himself as a “citizen of the world” who has, in the eyes of his detractors, become a stranger at home.

The label, first popularised by opposition strategists, has gained traction among voters who point to Ruto’s frequent overseas travel even as the rising cost of living, the contentious Finance Act 2026 and a spate of deadly school fires dominate national conversation.

Ruto’s trip to Antananarivo marked his 85th international trip since taking office on September 13, 2022, and his 20th foreign journey in 2026 alone, according to a tally by political tracking analysts. The frequency has earned him the nickname “the flying president” among critics, who argue it reflects a leader more focused on international recognition than domestic governance. 

Figures from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics indicate that inflation has eroded disposable incomes, while the national debt has surpassed Sh12 trillion.

The Finance Act 2026, which opposition leaders warned would impose fresh tax burdens on businesses and consumers, has heightened anxiety among the “hustlers” Ruto championed during his 2022 election campaign. A recent wave of deadly school fires has also intensified calls for stronger presidential leadership.

Orphans

“The President is absent from our struggles,” said Mwangi Kamau, a bodaboda operator in Naivasha’s Karagita slum who was caught up in Tuesday’s protests. “He is always in the sky. He meets Trump, he meets Macron, but he never meets us. We are orphans in our own country.”

Budget analysts and civil society organisations have also questioned the financial optics of Ruto’s globetrotting. 

The president frequently flies aboard private charter aircraft, including a Gulfstream G550, while his administration urges Kenyans to embrace austerity measures and higher taxes. His delegations often include several Cabinet Secretaries and aides whose travel allowances and per diems, economists say, place additional pressure on the exchequer.

Opposition leaders have seized upon the apparent contradiction. National Liberation Party leader Martha Karua questioned the President’s travel priorities.

“I haven’t seen a president with a minister of foreign affairs who wants to do the job of foreign affairs. Perhaps he should cede the presidency and become the minister for foreign affairs.”

His former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, has echoed similar sentiments. Addressing supporters during a rally in Bungoma last month, Gachagua accused Ruto of neglecting his responsibilities at home.

“Anatembea kila siku, akitoka hapa anaingia ndege hii, anatoka hii anaingia hii. Sasa yeye amesahau ati Kenya siyo Ulaya,” Gachagua thundered, drawing loud applause. (“Every day he is moving from one plane to another. He has forgotten that Kenya is not Europe.”)

Ruto has consistently rejected such criticism, insisting that his overseas engagements are an essential part of his constitutional responsibilities rather than leisure or vanity.

“I was looking at one of the headlines in the newspaper that William Ruto is travelling again. I wish they knew the kind of schedule that I have,” he told a town hall meeting in Helsinki, Finland, earlier this year. “I have not come here as a tourist or to waste time; I have come to ensure we have achieved certain things. Just for the record, I am the chief diplomat of our country. People want to know what Kenya stands for.” 

Speaking at a fundraiser before attending the G7 Summit in France, he added: “Sometimes they ask why the President has travelled abroad or met leaders from different parts of the world. That is the job I was elected to do. My diary is booked six months ahead. Transforming this country requires hard work.”

During his latest visit to Madagascar, accompanied by Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui, ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo and Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, Ruto defended the trip as vital. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said discussions had focused on agriculture, information and communications technology, trade and aviation.

“We value our longstanding friendship with Madagascar and remain committed to deepening our partnership for the benefit of our people,” he wrote. “Together, we will expand trade and investment, strengthen maritime cooperation, improve connectivity and unlock the immense potential of the Indian Ocean as a gateway for commerce, innovation and shared prosperity.”

Foreign policy analysts acknowledge the strategic importance of international diplomacy but argue that such achievements have failed to resonate with many voters struggling to meet their daily needs.

For many analysts, the distance between Nairobi and Antananarivo has become more than a geographical measurement. They see it as symbolising the widening gap between a President who speaks confidently about Kenya on the world stage and citizens who want him to listen more closely to their concerns at home.

As one protester in Naivasha remarked on Tuesday while shielding his eyes from teargas: “We didn’t vote for a citizen of the world. We voted for a President of Kenya. Where is he?”