Kenya’s Deputy president William Ruto is in the company of prominent Kenya Kwanza leaders in his tour of the United Kingdom and the United States, it has emerged.
Ruto left the country on Sunday and has a packed itinerary for the 12 days.
ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi also left the country on Sunday, according to his aampaign secretariat, which revealed that he will be away for for 10 days.
“Mudavadi jetted out of the country this morning on a high-profile overseas trip that will see him spend 10 days in the United States of America and the United Kingdom. Ruto is also on the trip,” a statement by the secretariat reads in part.
It further stated that the ANC leader is responding to invitations by top State officials, key multi-sectoral policymakers and respectable democratic institutions both in Washington DC and London.
Ruto and his team will be visiting the USA from Sunday 27, February to Saturday 5, March 2022 and then proceed to the United Kingdom from Saturday 5, to Tuesday 8, March.
The delegation will then head to Qatar from Tuesday 8, to Friday 11 March.
Accompanying the DP are:
Rachel Chebet Ruto Her excellency, Second lady
Josepha Koli Nanok Governor
Salim Mvurya Governor
Ann Mumbi Waiguru Governor
Musalia Mudavadi Former Vice President
Susan Kihika MP
Roselinda Soipan Tuya MP
Owen Yaa Baya MP
Beatrice Kahai Adagala MP
Alice Wahome MP
Kimani Ichungwa MP
Kipchumba Murkomen MP
Augustine Cheruiyot Head of Food Security
Ali Dau Mohammed Special Advisor Climate Change
Reuben Kirwa Maiyo Private Secretary to DP
Abdul Khalfan Mwasserah PAS/COP
Abraham Koriri Legal Advisor
David Mugonyi Secretary Communication
Eric Kipkoech Speechwriter
Roseline Tingoi Secretary Intergovernmental Affairs
William Yampoi Head of Security
Hellen Chepkurgat Samoei Private Secretary to Her Excellency
Fridah Warue Protocol
Elijah Kiplomo Security
Rebeccah Nduku Photographer
Dominic Muendo Cameraman
Philip Muthui Mwinzi Hospitality
Nelson Kisali Adeyaa Accountant
Mary Patriciah Assistant Director Office Admin
According to a statement by the DP’s head of International relations Ababu Namwamba, the tour seeks to ‘further strengthen ties with the country’s traditional friends and partners.
In his tour, the DP is set to meet and speak to Kenyans living in the diaspora; the USA as well as in the UK.
“He is to meet among others, state department officials, the pentagon and US government national security council advisor Condoleezza Rice,” Ababu said in a statement.
Mudavadi will address Kenyans in the diaspora and elucidate his economic blueprint, “Uchumi Bora, Pesa Mfukoni”, and explain how it will resuscitate Kenya’s economy
On Sunday, the head of Ruto’s Presidential Campaign secretariat and Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok said he had left the country together with Ruto.
“Accompanying DP William Ruto on an official whistle tour of the West, with a post 09 August 2022 message of hope and a better future for Kenyans and our nation. Lord, continue guiding and protecting us,” he said.
Nairobi Senator Johnstone Sakaja is said to have left the country a few days ago to lay the groundwork for the Kenya Kwanza delegation ahead of their tour.
Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya is also part of the delegation.
David Ndii, Ruto’s presidential campaigns head of foreign relations Ababu Namwamba and head of communications Hussein Mohamed are among the delegation.