Advertisement
June Ruto and now Charlene: How Ruto’s daughters have found love abroad
09th August, 2026 11:02 AM
President William Ruto’s daughters June and Charlene Ruto have both made headlines with their relationships with men from outside Kenya, bringing together families from different countries and cultures.
While June Ruto is already married to Nigerian Dr Alexander Ezenagu, her younger sister Charlene recently reached an important stage in her relationship with Tanzanian entrepreneur Isaya Yunge.
Their relationships have also attracted public interest because of the different cultural backgrounds brought together through the unions.
June Ruto’s marriage to Nigerian Dr Alexander Ezenagu
June Ruto, the president’s first-born daughter, married Dr. Alexander Ezenagu in May 2021 in a ceremony held at her parents’ residence in Karen, Nairobi. The wedding brought together the Kenyan and Nigerian sides of the family, with traditional elements from both cultures forming part of the celebrations.
Dr Ezenagu is a Nigerian academic and international tax law expert who has worked in academia and specialises in areas including international tax law, commercial law and governance.
The couple’s relationship became public before their wedding, with the families later coming together for the traditional marriage arrangements.
Speaking during the wedding celebrations, William Ruto acknowledged the emotions that came with giving his daughter away in marriage, while also joking about her choice of a Nigerian husband.
The marriage marked the beginning of a new chapter for June, who has kept much of her family life away from the public eye.
Charlene’s relationship with Isaya Yunge
Five years after June’s wedding, attention has now shifted to Charlene following her engagement to Tanzanian entrepreneur Isaya Yunge. The couple had largely kept their relationship away from the public eye before details of their plans emerged.
On Saturday, August 8, 2026, Charlene and Yunge held their traditional Koito ak Chaik ceremony at Intonna Heritage Farm in Kilgoris, Narok County.
The ceremony brought together the two families, as well as politicians, public figures, friends and other guests. Unlike June, whose marriage brought together Kenyan and Nigerian families, Charlene’s relationship has connected the Ruto family with Tanzania.
The ceremony also offered a glimpse into the traditions surrounding Charlene and Yunge’s union, with the event blending Kalenjin customs with the couple’s modern public lives.
Two relationships, different cultures
June and Charlene’s relationships have followed different paths, but both have involved crossing Kenya’s borders in matters of love and family.
June’s marriage introduced the Ruto family to Nigerian traditions through her union with Ezenagu, while Charlene’s relationship with Yunge has brought a Kenyan-Tanzanian connection into the family.
For the Ruto family, the two occasions have also provided opportunities to celebrate relationships through cultural ceremonies and family gatherings.
Charlene’s Koito has now become the latest chapter, with the traditional ceremony signalling her preparation for married life with Yunge.
As the two sisters continue their individual journeys, their relationships show how love can bring families from different countries and cultural backgrounds together while still allowing traditions to remain part of the celebrations.
