Digital Strategist Dennis Itumbi on Saturday refuted reports that President William Ruto travelled with a delegation of 367 to the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Itumbi clarified that the President while exercising austerity measures only travelled with 51 essential staff.
The digital strategist remarked that President William Ruto had earlier rejected a bloated list which had been handed to him for approval.
"President Ruto is very serious about cutting down travel costs. He asked for the list of those travelling with him to Dubai for Cop 28. He got a list of 189 people. He returned it to the bureaucracy and demanded cuts. It came back as 144," Itumbi noted in a statement.
"He instructed that the list comes down to below 60. Finally, only, 51 - essential staff travelled from across the Government."
The clarification came after reports among those listed to travel with the President were First Lady Rachel Ruto, and their children Stephanie Ruto (Staff), Charlene Ruto (Patron), and June Ruto (Protocol).
Others were Second Lady Dorcas Rigathi, and five Cabinet Secretaries including Njuguna Ndungu (Treasury), Rebecca Miano (Trade), Aisha Jumwa (Gender), Davis Chirchi (Energy), Susan Nakhumicha (Health) and Soipan Tuya (Environment).
The Executive in Ruto's entourage further included Principal Secretaries Festus Ng’eno (Environment and Climate Change), Christopher Kiptoo (Forestry), Abraham Korir (Foreign Affairs) Salome Wairimu (Correctional Services), and Mary Muthoni (Health).
Attorney General Justin Muturi and Central Organization of Trade Union (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli also formed part of the 367 delegation representing Kenya in COP28.
Governors attending the event are; Ahmed Abdullahi (Wajir), Andrew Mwadime (Taita Taveta), Benjamin Cheboi (Baringo), Kahiga Mutai (Nyeri), Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Susan Kihika (Nakuru), Cicily Mbarire (Embu), Erik Mutai (Kericho), Adam Jama (Garissa).
Other county bosses include; Wavinya Ndeti (Machakos), Wilber Ottichilo (Vihiga), Paul Otuoma (Busia), Stephen Sang (Nandi), Issa Timamy (Lamu), Patrick Ole Ntutu (Narok), Gideon Mung'aro (Kilifi) and Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga).
Senators travelling alongside the President include Ali Kibwana (Lamu), Wakoli David (Bungoma)and Moses Kajwang (Homa Bay).
The trip comes a month after President Ruto stated that he had reduced travel costs by Ksh11 billion and not half a billion as alleged by media outlets.
On October 27, Ruto while speaking in Taita Taveta noted he had directed the reduction of the travel budget for all three arms of the government by 50 percent.
"We have said, the travels that shall be funded by the people of Kenya should be a travel that will bring monetary value, bring investors and other benefits to the people of Kenya," Ruto noted.
Ruto's directive in October followed the concern about foreign trips he has made under one and half years he had been at the office.
