‘My mama did it all’- Charlene Ruto reveals her mother’s effort behind Koito ceremony
By William Muthama, August 10, 2026President William Ruto’s daughter, Charlene Ruto, has revealed the important role her mother, First Lady Rachel Ruto, played in preparing for her traditional engagement and farewell ceremony.
In a post shared on Instagram after the ceremony on Monday, August 10, 2026, Charlene said she was largely involved in sharing ideas, approving designs and concluding discussions, while her mother handled much of the preparation.
Charlene described her mother as the person who turned her ideas into reality, saying Rachel spent long hours preparing for the event.
“My mama was my everything as I planned my koito ak chaik,” Charlene wrote.
She said her role was mainly to share ideas, approve designs and conclude discussions, while Rachel took charge of the demanding preparations.
“She is the one who spent sleepless nights, sat in long meetings and executed my dream so that I could have a perfect day,” Charlene added.
Charlene accompanied the post with photos from the ceremony with her mother, giving her followers a glimpse of the event and her appreciation for her mother’s efforts.
A special celebration
The Koito ak Chaik, a traditional Kalenjin engagement and farewell ceremony, brought together family members, friends and senior political figures.
President William Ruto and Rachel formally welcomed Tanzanian tech entrepreneur Isaya Yunge into the family during the ceremony.
The event marked a significant milestone for Charlene and Yunge, who had kept details of their relationship largely private before making their engagement public.
Yunge, born on March 23, 1990, in Mwanza, Tanzania, is a technology entrepreneur and social innovator. He co-founded SomaApp, a scholarship-matching platform connecting young Africans with education opportunities.
Charlene’s appreciation
Charlene ended her message by expressing gratitude to her mother for the work that went into making the ceremony memorable.
“I am so blessed. Thank you, Mama!!” she wrote.
Charlene held her Kalenjin Koito ak Chaik ceremony on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at the Ruto family’s Intonna Heritage Farm in Kilgoris, Narok County.