President Uhuru Kenyatta is justified in making numerous international trips given that they are beneficial to the country, State House has said.
Since assuming office for the second term in 2017, Uhuru has made 31 trips outside the country despite the diminishing cost of living.
During his first term, Uhuru made a total of 96 foreign trips amid increasing debts, both foreign and domestic. Uhuru's trips are financed by taxpayers.
However, State House Chief of Staff Nzioka Waita defended the trips on Wednesday, arguing that they are beneficial to the country in terms of trade.
"One of President Kenyatta’s duties as Head of State is to position Kenya as a force for good & a thought leader in the community of nations," he said.
"A duty he has discharged extremely effectively. Foreign travel to advance Kenya’s agenda and sphere of influence is simply part of the job," he added.
According to international relations scholar Prof Macharia Munene, Uhuru’s foreign trips have at some point borne fruits depending on the outcome.
“Presidential travels are necessary and very important depending on the object and achievements. If it is a joyrider with a huge delegation of hangers-on then it is wasteful. Some of these trips have been beneficial to the country while others are not,” he told The Star.
Uhuru left the country on Monday for Saudi Arabia where he's said to be holding bilateral talks with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He will then fly to Botswana.
Last week, Uhuru was in Japan before flying to Russia upon the invitation of President Vladimir Putin. Putin vowed to support the Kenyan military.