President William Ruto’s unannounced visit to Dubai on January 6, 2026, has come to public attention after Italian billionaire Flavio Briatore shared a photo of the Kenyan leader on Instagram.
The post, showing Ruto at Lion in the Sun restaurant in the Mandarin Oriental Downtown, described him as a “prestigious guest,” alongside entrepreneur Kamel Ghribi.
The private meeting appears to have been completely off the public radar, with no prior announcement from the Kenyan government.
The Instagram post is the first known confirmation of Ruto’s presence in the UAE, sparking curiosity about the purpose of the trip and the topics discussed.
Read the Full Story Here: President Ruto's Mysterious Trip to Dubai
On the same day, Ruto was reportedly carrying out official duties in Western Kenya, including inaugurating development projects and attending youth empowerment events.
The apparent timing suggests the president may have made a brief, overnight trip to Dubai, a move that has drawn attention from political observers.
Analysts say the lack of transparency surrounding the trip could raise questions about accountability, particularly as presidential foreign engagements are typically publicized.
Social media users are now calling for clarity on the discussions and any agreements resulting from the meeting.
The Kenyan government has not yet issued a statement regarding Ruto’s Dubai trip.