President William Ruto touched down in Addis Ababa in style, opting against the official Fokker 70 ER in favour of a high-end private jet.

The Head of State arrived aboard a Gulfstream GV, registration number T7-VVV, and was received with the customary honours accorded to a visiting president. 

What captured attention, however, was the aircraft itself, a symbol of both luxury and aviation excellence.

The Gulfstream GV, also known as the Gulfstream V, is a large, long-range business jet manufactured by Gulfstream Aerospace. 

Measuring 29.4 metres in length with a wingspan of 28.5 meters, it revolutionised private aviation when it entered service in 1997 by offering nonstop transcontinental and transoceanic travel. 

With a range of 6,500 nautical miles, it can link distant cities such as New York and Tokyo or London and Singapore without the need for refueling.

The aircraft accommodates up to 18 passengers in a stand-up cabin divided into three sections for work, relaxation, and rest. 

Its low cabin altitude reduces fatigue during long journeys, while oversized oval windows allow natural light to brighten the interior. 

In addition to its comfort, the Gulfstream GV is regarded as one of the most reliable and technologically advanced business jets ever produced, holding numerous records for speed, altitude, and distance.

The specific jet used by President Ruto is owned and operated by Skymark Executive, a San Marino–based aviation company with over 25 years of experience in the sector. 

Skymark also operates a Gulfstream G450 and a Gulfstream G600. 

The company has had the T7-VVV based in Nairobi since October 2024. When launching the GV into its fleet, Skymark described it as its first aircraft permanently stationed in Africa to meet growing demand for VIP travel across the continent.

“Based at Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta, the GV will enable us to better serve the increasing VIP flying demand across the African continent,” the company said in a past statement.

While the company does not publicly disclose its charter fees, air charter experts estimate the hourly cost of operating a Gulfstream GV at between $15,000 (Sh1.9 million) and $20,000 (Sh2.6 million), depending on services and conditions.

President Ruto has previously come under scrutiny for his preference for luxury jets. In 2024, he chartered a Boeing 737-700 for his trip to the United States, with costs estimated at Sh2.4 million ($18,000) per hour. 

The revelation sparked nationwide criticism, though government spokesman Isaac Mwaura defended the decision, arguing that the benefits of the visit outweighed the transport costs for the president and his delegation.

Ruto himself later clarified that the total expense for the U.S. trip was under Sh10 million ($76,000), far below claims that it had cost the taxpayer Sh200 million.

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 “I am not a mad man. I am a very responsible steward,” he said at a national prayer meeting in Nairobi. “There is no way I can spend 200 million. It cost the republic less than 10 million.” 

He further explained that when he considered using Kenya Airways, he was quoted Sh70 million, after which friends stepped in to subsidise the cost of a private charter.

According to State House spokesperson Hussein Mohammed, Ruto is in Ethiopia to attend the second Africa Climate Summit and the inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.