Osotsi Criticizes Ruto’s International Trips
Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi has expressed disapproval of President William Ruto’s frequent trips to various nations.
In an interview with Citizen TV on Thursday, Osotsi argued that such journeys lacked sensitivity, particularly in light of the country’s economic difficulties and the burdensome cost of living.
Osotsi proposed that it would be more suitable if Ruto limited his international travels to essential matters, delegating most other issues to the relevant Cabinet Secretaries responsible for foreign affairs or the Minister of Trade.
He highlighted the fact that the president’s travels involve a substantial entourage and require extensive logistical arrangements.
“As the value of the dollar has now reached Sh150, I believe it is insensitive for a leader in charge of a country facing economic challenges to continue traveling,” he opined.
“The travel becomes very expensive when the President embarks on these trips,” he noted.
Osotsi drew a contrast between the travel frequencies of former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Ruto, emphasizing that Ruto had embarked on numerous trips in just one year.
“Uhuru traveled to 53 countries in 10 years, while Ruto has traveled to 38 countries in just one year,” Osotsi claimed.
Osotsi pointed out that the control budget had raised alarms regarding travel expenses, which prompted the implementation of measures aimed at curbing costs, with a primary emphasis on reducing travel expenditures.
“It is quite contradictory that while the head of the public service has reduced travel for public servants, the country’s leader continues to travel,” he said.
He did, however, recognize that some of these journeys might produce favorable outcomes, but he also contended that the majority of them were superfluous.
“The President doesn’t have to travel; he has a foreign minister who can attend these functions, and the trade minister can also handle some of these trips. He doesn’t need to travel all the time,” Osotsi stated.
Osotsi encouraged Ruto to take a cue from countries like Nigeria, where they suspended all travel, leading to economic stability within a year and a decrease in unnecessary journeys.
“Other line ministers in his government can undertake these unnecessary travels, not the President himself,” Osotsi suggested.
He highlighted that the recent visit to Saudi Arabia could have been handled by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi.
For instance, he observed that the agreement between Kenya and Saudi Arabia to import fuel had failed to provide the intended benefits, as it was supposed to lower fuel prices but had, in fact, resulted in an increase.
“We want to see tangible results, and these results should not be just words. We want to witness their impact on the cost of living, the exchange rate, inflation; they must be tangible,” he emphasized.
In Other News: Nyaribo Targets Arati in Keroka Boundary Dispute
