Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid has left tongues wagging after she left the country in simplistic travel mode devoid of any fanfare.
The President, who had just completed her three-day tour in Kenya, was seen off by Foreign Affairs CS Raychelle Omamo and her Defence counterpart Monica Juma on the evening of Saturday, September 12, at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Unlike Kenyan VIPs, Kaljulaid was spotted carrying her own luggage while boarding a commercial flight back to her country.
When she arrived in the country, she did not have her own aide de camp and was given one by the Government of Kenya.
What also caught the eye of many was her casual dress code in which she donned a black polo T-shirt layered over a blue pair of jeans and white sneakers.
"No private jet. She’s carrying her own luggage including what you gifted her. Isn’t her humility impressive?" Robert Langat remarked.
"Our leaders in Kenya have a colonial mentality. Look at her dress code. Very casual. Our leaders should learn from these photos," added Chirchir London.
In contrast, a Kenyan National considered to be a Very Important Person (VIP) is entitled to security provided to them by the National Police Service.
The category cuts across from some members of the County Assembly, the Members of the National Assembly (MPs), some high ranking government officials - all the way to the President of the Republic.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, for instance, has at his disposal more than 300 specially trained officers working in shifts to prevent fatigue, especially when he has a tightly packed schedule.
When the Head of State travels to Mombasa from Nairobi, a special Mercedes-Maybach S600 Pullman Guard has to be taken through the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) ahead of his visit.
His deputy was recently the centre of national attention after it emerged that he was the most guarded deputy president in the history of Kenya with 257 officers at his disposal.
During her visit to Kenya, Kaljulaid participated in a street clean-up exercise and took part in a 10,000 km race against Kenyan athletes.
She was the first-ever President from Estonia to visit the Republic of Kenya after receiving an invite from Presidentent Uhuru.
