Devolution Conference: Charlene Ruto praises her father for good mentorship
By Cynthia Lodite, August 13, 2025President William Ruto’s daughter, Charlene Ruto, has showered her father with praise for a farm upbringing and work ethic he instilled in her from a young age, particularly his passion for agriculture and environmental conservation.
Charlene made her remarks on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, during a booth visit by her father, who was officially opening the 12th Devolution Conference in Homa Bay County.
At the time, Charlene recalled how her visits to her rural home, coordinated by her father, the Head of State, shaped her commitment to national development initiatives.
“You know you brought me up in the farms every Easter, every Christmas; we used to go to Ushago, and this is the work that has come from it. We are working with traditional beekeepers,” Charlene noted.
Charlene also revealed that under youth-led environmental initiatives, they have already planted 754,000 trees in support of the government’s 15 billion tree campaign, a flagship programme aimed at tackling climate change and deforestation.
“We are also working with young people in agriculture, and we have planted 754,000 trees as young people to contribute to the 15 Billion Tree campaign,” Charlene said.
Further adding, “Thank you for your mentorship,” while acknowledging Ruto’s influence on her leadership path and dedication to public service.
Charlene’s farming foundation
Worth noting, Charlene, who is the patron of the Smachs Foundation, at a past event, noted that her foundation has teamed up with several partners to push for a youth-led agriculture renaissance in the country.
She spoke during the launch of a model smart agriculture farm at Kosachei Primary School in Uasin Gishu, which is aimed at training young children at the school to engage in farming for the benefit of the school and the community.
“When children plant crops and watch them grow, when they harvest and enjoy the fruits of their labour, when they sell their produce and see how it supports their schools and families, they no longer need convincing to embrace farming,” she said.
She said training young people in schools would eventually have a multiplier effect in building a community of young farmers in the country.
“Our dream of sparking a youth-led agriculture renaissance will have been achieved,” she said, adding that they planned to have similar model farms for smart agriculture in all counties.