- President William Ruto landed in Harare aboard a privately chartered Boeing 737-800 BBJ2 for the 25th COMESA Heads of State Summit
- Charter rates for the VIP-configured aircraft run between KSh 1.6 million and KSh 2.4 million per flight hour, with the full round-trip cost undisclosed by State House
- The flight comes as Kenya's official presidential jet, Harambee One, remains grounded for overseas trips despite recently completing a lengthy overhaul in the Netherlands
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President William Ruto flew into Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, on Wednesday, October 21, on a privately chartered Boeing 737-800 BBJ2, registered as T7-BBJ2, to attend the 25th COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit.
Source: UGC
The aircraft is a business-jet variant of the well-known narrow-body airliner, kitted out with a private suite, a spacious lounge, a conference area, and extended fuel tanks capable of supporting long intercontinental legs without a stopover.
Why is Ruto not using Harambee One?
The decision to charter a private jet stem from the current status of Kenya's official presidential aircraft, Harambee One.
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The Fokker 70 only recently returned from a nearly year-long overhaul carried out in the Netherlands, during which it received a refreshed interior and a high-speed satellite communications system.
Despite completing the refurbishment, the aircraft has so far been used only for domestic test flights and has not yet carried the president on any international trip.
Ruto's arrival at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport put him at the centre of a significant regional gathering.
The summit brought together leaders from the 21-member bloc to discuss cross-border investment, industrialisation and the rollout of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The meeting also marked Zimbabwe taking over the chairmanship of COMESA, with a particular focus on unlocking value from the continent's natural resources.
How much does Ruto's charter cost?
Current market rates for a Boeing BBJ2 of this calibre sit between $12,000 and $18,000 per flight hour, which translates to roughly KSh 1.6 million to KSh 2.4 million depending on fuel surcharges, routing and operator fees.
State House has not published the actual invoice for the Nairobi-to-Harare leg, but industry benchmarks suggest the round-trip bill runs well into the tens of millions of shillings before crew, catering and ground-handling costs are factored in.
Inside the cabin, passengers typically enjoy wide leather seats, a dining area, satellite Wi-Fi connectivity and a dedicated rest space, all designed to keep heads of state productive or rested on long hauls.
Source: TUKO.co.ke