President William Ruto was driven in a black Mercedes-Maybach S 600 Pullman during his state visit to Kazakhstan. The armoured limousine is among the world's most exclusive vehicles for heads of state.
The vehicle, measuring about 6.5 metres, ferried President Ruto and First Lady Rachael Ruto through the Kazakh capital. It was flanked by a police motorcycle escort and flew the Kenyan national flag.
The Pullman is the longest version of the Mercedes S-Class. It features face-to-face executive seating, a privacy partition and extensive sound insulation. Its Guard specification includes ballistic armour, bullet-resistant glass and run-flat tyres.
Power comes from a 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine producing roughly 530 horsepower. New examples start above 500,000 euros before armour and bespoke fittings. Fully armoured state versions cost several million dollars.
Host nations typically organise transport for visiting dignitaries. Questions have arisen over the private jet used for the trip to Baku and Astana, with costs estimated between Ksh2.3 million and Ksh3.2 million per flight and a total trip cost expected to exceed Ksh532 million.
