Here are the countries Uhuru Kenyatta visited in 2019

Kenyans have criticized President Uhuru Kenyatta for the numerous trips he has made since taking office in 2012.

This year was no exception. The Head of State traversed the world making deals with other world leaders.

In January

President Uhuru kicked off the year with flying out of the country for the inauguration of Félix Tshisekedi as president of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Uhuru was the only Head of State in Africa to attend the inauguration although reports indicated that 17 other Presidents had been invited.

President Uhuru Kenyatta with DRC President Felix Tshisekedi President Uhuru Kenyatta with DRC President Felix Tshisekedi Pulse Live Kenya

He also visited Eritrea on January 23. The last visit by a sitting Kenyan President to the country was in 1999.

In April

Uhuru travelled to China where he sought to secure funding for the Naivasha-Kisumu standard gauge railway. This was his second visit to Beijing with an agenda to secure a loan to finance Phase 3 of the SGR.

African Union’s High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa, Raila Odinga accompanied Mr Kenyatta on the trip.

During this time the Head of State is alleged to have visited Dubai where he met Dubai ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum over the fake gold scam scandal. The meeting according to local dailies took place on April 27, 2019.

In June

President Uhuru Kenyatta lands in Canada where he attended the 2019 Global Women Deliver Conference. The event was attended by over 8.000 delegates from more than 165 countries. Uhuru was invited to the conference by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Uhuru kenyatta with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Uhuru kenyatta with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Pulse Live Kenya

In July

On the invite of Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli, Uhuru visited Tanzania. Uhuru was the first President to visit Chato, Tanzania for the two day private visit. It was all camaraderie and warmth as Mr Kenyatta visited Mr Magufuli’s home town of Chato, which is next to Lake Victoria.

After the Chato visit, the Head of State set the internet ablaze in July after he allegedly landed from Zambia and bypassed the presidential pavilion where his deputy William Ruto was waiting to receive him.

The president, arrived at JKIA and discarded protocol and went straight to the international passenger terminals catching his deputy unawares.

In August

Uhuru made a six-day trip in the Caribbean Islands of Jamaica and Barbados. He met with Barbados Prime Minister Andrew Holness and PM Mia Mottley respectively.

President Uhuru kenyatta with Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness President Uhuru kenyatta with Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness Pulse Live Kenya

During the trip to Barbados, Mr Kenyatta and Mr Mottley discussed ways of deepening bilateral relations, strategies for African common prosperity and cooperation in multilateral issues.

In September

Uhuru travel to Singapore where he spoke at the Singapore Summit. Uhuru addressed Kenya's growth trajectory and opportunities for growth in East Africa.

A day later he flew to the US where he joined fellow Heads of State and Government at the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

Uhuru held a bilateral meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and later participate in climate change, Universal Health Coverage (UHC), counter-terrorism and blue economy engagements.

In October

The President left State House, Mombasa and boarded a private jet to Tokyo, Japan. Kenyans on social media were not particularly impressed by the trip due to the cost.

President Uhuru Kenyatta and First Lady Margaret Kenyatta in Tokyo, Japan President Uhuru Kenyatta and First Lady Margaret Kenyatta in Tokyo, Japan Pulse Live Kenya

President Kenyatta was among over 170 world leaders who witnessed the Japanese cultural heritage at the grand enthronement ceremony of Emperor Naruhito.

After the ceremony, the Head of State boarded the luxurious private jet and headed for Sochi in Russia where African leaders were meeting President Vladamir Putin.

Uhuru's visit to Russia, saw the Eastern Europe country donate Ksh700 million for a project. Ambassador Dimitri Amaksimychev said that the donation was part of Russia's support for Africa's sustainable development, Kenya's Vision 2030 and the Big 4 agenda.

During the same month, President Kenyatta visited Saudi Arabia and had an audience with King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

This was on October 30, where Uhuru held bilateral talks with King Salman, to discuss trade and security ties between Kenya and Saudi Arabia.

Kenyatta was one of three African leaders to speak to guests attending the “Davos in the Desert” event.

President Uhuru Kenyatta inside a plane President Uhuru Kenyatta inside a plane Pulse Live Kenya

Since taking office, Uhuru has made more than 100 trips across the globe compared to his 33 trips made by his predecessor Mwai Kibaki.

Experts differ on the importance of the trips the Head of State makes with some saying it would not be easy to measure if the trips were beneficial to the country unless an evaluation is done.

However, some state that there is a lot of positives including bilateral agreements and fast-tracked trade deals which are in most cases beneficial to the country.