President William Ruto’s little-known daughters, June, Stephanie and Cullie Ruto are among delegates who accompanied the Head of State for his three-day US visit.
The president’s daughters were first spotted during Ruto’s visit to the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, and later during the White House State dinner in Washington D.C.
However, what stood out from the trip was the stylish outfits that the first family wore during the visit where they interacted with comedian Steve Harvey.
It was not long before Kenyans online pulled prices of the outfits off the internet with a dress worn by one of Ruto’s daughters costing as much as Ksh 54,000.
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According to the photo, June wore a Claudie Pierlot micbis logo woven cardigan top that cost £249, at least Ksh 42,00.
The top was completed with a Claudie Pierlot Macbis logo knitted skirt that retails for £219, some Ksh 36,200.
The pricey outfit is 70% viscose, 30% polyester; Belt 63% viscose, 27% polyester, 8% polyamide, 2% elastane; Pocket: 66% viscose, 28% polyester, 5% polyamide and 1% elastane.
On the other hand, Stephanie, showed up dressed in a Maje russel abstract print sleeveless minidress that sells for $415 or Ksh 54,000.
Compared to her sisters, Cullie went easy and turned up for the visit in plain black palazzo pants matched with a Maje chevron-knit polo top.
The Maje chevron-knit polo top which is finished with logo-engraved silver-tone buttons and a scallop hem and cuffs retails for $177 or Ksh 23,000.
This comes at a time when Ruto is on the receiving end over the costy visit to the US.
For instance, renowned advocate Donald B. Kipkorir said the visit had so many faults and flaws to be considered a state visit.
He cited among other reasons the absence of high-ranking officials from the US government receiving him in Atlanta and Washington DC.
“In a state visit, the visiting Head of State and First Lady arrive to a huge red carpet from the plane to the Presidential Limousine. On hand to receive him will be the host Head of State and First Lady.
“If the host president isn’t there, a highest-ranking member of the government receives and takes the visiting head of state to the White House/State House/Palace where the host head of state will be waiting,” Kipkorir said.
Kipkorir added that the entire tour is usually highly choreographed, with the visiting president only rubbing shoulders with the highest state officers and the visiting first lady becoming a guest of the host first lady before huge bilateral agreements are signed.
“The razzmatazz, pomp and glamour of a state visit are missing. All the meetings arranged so far are with US celebrities who can’t build factories or roads in Kenya. Did someone make false representations to our president? Something is amiss,” said Kipkorir.
Additionally, reports revealed that Ruto’s chartered Boeing 737-700 business jet cost taxpayers nearly Ksh 200 million for the four days he was away.
The luxury charter, provided by the Abu Dhabi-based airline Royal Jet, charges Ksh2.4 million per hour.
A quoted cost for a one-way flight from Nairobi to Atlanta was Ksh98 million for the 18-hour journey.
This sum, along with the return trip and additional flights, brings the total expense to more than Ksh 200 million, reported The Standard.
