First daughter Charlene Ruto spoke to delegates from around the world attending the United Nations annual summit meeting in New York.
During her turn to speak during the event, Charlene marketed the country as a holiday destination before presenting her submission to the delegates.
“Allow me to welcome all of you to come to Kenya; we have beautiful beaches, we are the only country where our national park is in the capital city, and we have swimming lions, so come and experience it for yourself,” she stated.
Passion for farming
On her passion for agriculture, Charlene narrated that her father, President William Ruto, would always insist that they go to their rural home in Eldoret during Easter and Christmas holidays, and he would pick the passion after spending more time at their vast farm.
“When I looked into how I can work with young people, agriculture for me was a no-brainer. Every Easter and Christmas, my parents would insist, ‘We need to go to the farm.’ I hated it at that time, but today I am so grateful,” she added.
She added that farming ran in their family and that both her parents were passionate about agriculture.
“My father is a chicken farmer, my mother has a green camp, she’s great with flowers, and she does amazing kitchen gardens, while I am a beekeeper. Beekeeping was my introduction to the agricultural world because I got to learn about pollination and I sell honey as a business,” Charlene stated.
Charlene noted that her introduction to beekeeping had opened her mind to the opportunities in the industry for the youth.
“When I got into the business of selling honey, I realized there is a vast opportunity for young people. That is what led me to find the Smachs Foundation, which is smart mechanised agriculture and climate action for humanity and sustainability. For us to work together to change the average age of a farmer in Africa from 60 to 16,” she said as she concluded her speech in New York.
Charlene is in the US alongside Ruto, who is expected to address heads of state on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, during the United Nations General Assembly summit.
Key among the issues Ruto is expected to address are the debt burden on developing countries, the effects and mitigations of climate, and Kenya’s involvement in the peacekeeping mission in Haiti.
