Expensive Hobby - Price Of George Ruto's Dirt Bike Leaves Kenyans In Shock

George Ruto's choice of recreational wheels has caught the attention of Kenyans after sharp-eyed observers identified the motorcycle he was spotted riding as a KTM 350 EXC-F, and the price tag attached to the machine has set social media talking.

The KTM 350 EXC-F is not a casual weekend bike. It is a high performance dirt bike built for serious off-road riding, the kind of machine that demands both skill and significant financial investment to own and maintain.

The base model of the bike starts at approximately $13,049, which translates to roughly Ksh 1.7 million at current exchange rates. That figure, however, is just the entry point.

Higher trims and special editions push the price considerably further, with estimates ranging between Ksh 2.5 million and Ksh 3 million before import duties, taxes, shipping costs, and dealer fees are factored in.

By the time the bike lands in Kenya and is road ready, the total investment could comfortably exceed Ksh 3 million.

The revelation has landed at a particularly sensitive moment. Kenya is in the middle of a cost of living crisis that has pushed people onto the streets, with fuel at Ksh 214 a litre and families cutting back on essentials.

Against that backdrop, a dirt bike worth several million shillings being ridden by the President's son has produced the kind of reaction one would expect.

Some have responded with admiration for the machine itself. Others have been considerably less generous, pointing to the disconnect between the lifestyle on display and the daily reality of the country the rider's father governs.