Former EALA MP Says William Ruto Timing To Visit US Was Wrong

• Former EALA MP Mumbi Ng'aru said President William Ruto's visit to the United States was untimely because of the country's current situation
• Ng'aru said the visit should have been rescheduled until situations are settled in the country
• She further lamented that the burden of the trip still goes to Kenyans, who are grappling with tough economic times

President William Ruto's official visit to the United States (US), which began on Monday, May 20, has received mixed reactions from leaders across both political divides.

The latest to criticise Ruto's visit is the former East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member of Parliament Mumbi Ng'aru.

According to her, the visit was beneficial but came at the wrong time, given the many situations currently in the country.

"I have no problem with the president's state visit, but I think the timing was wrong. The president should have rescheduled the trip," Nga'ru said.

Why William Ruto's US visit was wrongly scheduled

During an interview with Citizen TV on Wednesday, May 22, Ng'aru said the country is still recovering from the floods; the schools have reopened, but floods still ravage other counties.

She further said he should have waited until the contentious 2024 Finance Bill had been finalised, as Kenyans still need to reach an agreement.

"The visit should have come after sorting our budget, which still has issues. The country is still going through a post-flood crisis; schools have just reopened, and doctors have just returned to work. We still have a lot to handle, rather than the prestigious visit," she expounded.

Ng'aru said the burden of the trip still lay with the common Mwananchi, who is struggling with the biting economy.

" We are going to pay for it. Maybe the host should have paid for it, but it makes sense to us as Kenyans because of our economic situation," she added.

Donald Korir questions Ruto's US visit

L.awyer Donald Kipkorir on Wednesday, May 22, questioned Ruto's visit to US.

According to him, the visit is far from a state visit.

He questioned the absence of senior political officials to receive the president in Washington DC, as Ruto was received by President Joe Biden's wife, Jill Biden.

What to know about William Ruto's US visit

• On Wednesday, government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura shut down a man who had asked him about the cost of the president's flight to the US
• A Kenyan man living in the US confronted Ruto with tough questions after losing KSh 250,000 to fake fertiliser
• Coca-Cola announced a KSh 23 billion investment in Kenya after Ruto visited their Headquarter in the US

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