William Ruto Embarks On 2-Day State Visit To Mozambique Despite Online Criticism: "Tanga Tanga"

• State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed said William Ruto will hold discussions with his host and counterpart, President Filipe Nyusi
• Hussein Mohammed further revealed that the two presidents will also oversee the signing of eight cooperation agreements
• However, William Ruto's recent visit to Mozambique has not augured well, with a section of netizens who aired their views on the move

Nairobi - President William Ruto will today, Thursday, August 10, leave the country for a two-day State Visit to the Republic of Mozambique.

In a statement, State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed said Ruto will hold discussions with his host and counterpart President Filipe Nyusi.

"The talks are aimed at strengthening and expanding bilateral ties between Kenya and Mozambique with a particular focus on key sectors including Blue Economy and Fisheries, Trade, Defence, Agriculture, Energy, Transport, and Capacity Building," Hussein said.

What else Ruto and Nyusi will discuss

Hussein further revealed that the two presidents would also oversee the signing of eight cooperation agreements, solidifying their shared commitment to collaboration between Kenya and Mozambique and strengthening cooperation along the realm of the Indian-Swahili coast.

"The visit will also include momentum for the Kenya-Mozambique Business Forum which will explore mutual economic opportunities. Additionally, it will mark the launch of the Kenya-Mozambique Joint Trade Committee (JTC)," Hussein further said.

Ruto is on the spot by his critics for what they say are too many foreign trips.

In a poor country where corruption has been a central issue for decades, the criticism has struck a chord with a public angry at the lavish lifestyles of the political class.

Although the head of state has defended his foreign trips several times, the recent one has not augured well with a section of netizens who aired their views on the development.

Netizens to Hussein Mohammed's tweet

TUKO.co.ke sampled some of the comments below:

@MunyiriWaithira wrote:

"He can globetrot all he wants to escape the reality that he has failed to deliver and reduced hustlers to recipients of rice and stew. Only the shareholder- hotel owner for the catering wins haha."

@Silvanus254 questioned:

"What have we achieved as a majority from these regular visits to African countries that have zero impact in improving local/African trade network @HusseinMohamedg?"

@miminisingh opined:

"This is too much for a government that found empty coffers."

@FidelFidel6 said:

"He became a tourist."

@Commonmundu wrote:

"Tanga Tanga!"

@ChipondaHarris1 commented:

"The effect of having a Tanga Tanga person at State House. What happened to the "We found empty coffers at the treasury" narrative?"

How Ruto defended his foreign trips

Earlier, TUKO.co.ke reported that in early July 2023, Ruto strongly defended his foreign trips following a public outcry that the taxpayer was coughing up more to finance his foreign movements and the delegation accompanying him on such occasions.

In less than a year, the head of state has made over 20 foreign trips amid claims that the government coffers are drying up yet the taxpayer needs to dig deeper in the pocket to finance government operations and repay Kenya’s debts.

But speaking at Kapteren in Keiyo North, Elgeyo Marakwet county, on July 2, 2023, Ruto explained that the trips are integral to creating jobs.

He added that the trips will result in the creation of one million jobs, as promised by Kenya Kwanza in the run-up to the 2022 General Election.