Donald Kipkorir Doubts If William Ruto's Trip To US Is State Visit: "Pomp, Glamour Are Missing"

• President William Ruto is on a three-day state visit to the United States of America, where he is expected to meet President Joe Biden
• However, lawyer Donald Kipkorir expressed his reservations about whether Ruto's trip meets the criteria of a state visit
• The flamboyant lawyer questioned why no senior government official was at hand to receive Ruto on his arrival

Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi - Lawyer Donald Kipkorir has expressed his views regarding President William Ruto's ongoing state visit to the United States of America.

On Sunday, May 19, Ruto left the country for the historic visit, which rarely accommodated African presidents.

However, Kipkorir has expressed doubts about whether Ruto is indeed on a state visit to the US.

How a visiting head of state should be received

The flamboyant lawyer gave various reasons why he thinks Ruto's visit to the US does not qualify as a state visit.

According to Kipkorir, during a state visit, the visiting head of state is usually received by the host president or a high-ranking member of the government.

After being received at the airport, the visiting president is usually driven to the State House/Palace or White House, where the host president will receive him.

"The host head of state and first lady will be on hand to receive him. If the host president isn’t there, the 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. A military parade will be conducted where the two heads of state meet for the first time, whether at the airport or the state house," Kipkorir said.

Is William Ruto on a state visit?

Kipkorir argued that on arrival, the entire tour is supposed to be highly choreographed, with the visiting president being treated as the guest of the host president.

"The entire tour will be highly choreographed with the highest state officers. The head of state becomes a highly honoured guest of the host head of state. The visiting first lady becomes a guest of the host first lady. The big/huge bilateral agreements are signed," he added.

Despite supporting Ruto's visit to the US, Kipkorir downplayed its relevance, saying the president was only meeting celebrities who can hardly make serious investments in the country.

"I fully support and endorse President William Ruto's visit to the US, but 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," he stated

Pauline Njoroge's mixed signals

Meanwhile, questions emerged over the role of blogger Pauline Njoroge in Ruto's entourage on his state visit to the United States.

Pauline had flown before Ruto's visit, saying she was on a personal vacation to study history in the US.

But her first X post after landing in the US before Ruto's arrival spoke contrary to what she had stated she was in the US for.

The known critic of Ruto's regime seemed too preoccupied with the president's visit.

What you need to know about Ruto's trip to the US

• President William Ruto apologised to one of his daughters after touring Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta.
• Photos of the first family at the Tyler Pery Studios in Atlanta, Georgia, went viral on social media, and Kenyans quickly noticed Charlene was missing in the family portraits.
• Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura fiercely responded to a section of Kenyans who questioned President William Ruto's US flight cost.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke