Pastor Kanyari reveals he expected Charlene Ruto to marry outside East Africa
By Steve Ireri, August 10, 2026Salvation Healing Ministry founder Pastor Victor Kanyari has revealed that he expected President William Ruto’s daughter Charlene Ruto to marry a man from outside East Africa, saying he was surprised after learning that her husband is Tanzanian.
Speaking during his Sunday service on August 9, 2026, Kanyari reflected on Charlene’s recent Koito ceremony, saying he had expected her to settle down with a man of a different calibre.
“For Charlene Ruto, I was expecting her to marry a different kind of man. A man who is modern and good-looking – those kinds of men are more attractive than us. Those who wear one earring as fashion,” Kanyari said.
The preacher said his expectations changed when he saw the man who arrived for Charlene’s ceremony, prompting him to take a closer look at him and research his background.
“So when I saw that man who arrived, I had to zoom a bit. And I had to even look for that man’s biography,” he said.
Kanyari said his search revealed that Charlene’s husband is Tanzanian, a detail that he appeared to find particularly significant.
“When I read it, I discovered he is from Tanzania. First thing, he is not a Kenyan even,” Kanyari said.
The preacher then turned his attention to the businessman’s reported wealth, joking that Kenya had lost an opportunity to keep the wealth within the country.
“And I saw they were advertising him as a wealthy businessman. And that means we as Kenyans have failed the test. How could we let all that wealth go to Tanzania?” he asked.
Kanyari’s remarks came as Charlene’s marriage to Tanzanian tech entrepreneur Isaiah Yunge, also known as Yunke, continued to attract public attention following their high-profile traditional Kalenjin engagement and farewell ceremony.
The ceremony, known as Koito ak Chaik, was held at Intonna Heritage Farm in Kilgoris, Narok County, on Saturday, August 8, bringing together prominent political, business, entertainment and social figures from Kenya and Tanzania.
Kanyari’s message to women
Kanyari subsequently used Charlene’s marriage to make a broader appeal to women, urging them not to make skin tone the main consideration when choosing a partner.
The preacher specifically criticised what he described as a preference among some women for light-skinned men, arguing that women should instead consider darker-skinned men.
“That is why I am telling women to stop looking for men who are light-skinned. Yunge’s one is good because he is not light-skinned,” Kanyari said.
He went on to make a sweeping claim about relationships involving light-skinned men, saying women should reconsider such preferences.
“And that is why I urge women to have such men and not light-skinned ones because those relationships always end in tragedy,” he said.
Kanyari then turned the remarks into a humorous appeal for women to consider men like himself.
“Look for men like me. Black is beautiful,” he said.
The preacher also appeared struck by the scale of Charlene’s traditional ceremony, drawing attention to the number of helicopters that arrived at the venue.
“Did you see the choppers that landed in that wedding? Wow, so many,” Kanyari said.
His comments come after Charlene’s Koito attracted significant attention online, with images and videos showing prominent guests arriving at the private celebration.
The ceremony brought together high-profile political and cultural figures from Kenya and Tanzania, further highlighting the cross-border nature of Charlene’s union.
Yunge, the groom, is a Tanzanian entrepreneur and the founder of SomaApp, a platform focused on connecting African students with international scholarship opportunities. He is also the CEO of Goodsam Technologies and has previously received international recognition for his work.
Charlene’s ceremony was held under tight security and privacy arrangements, with guests arriving at the Ruto family’s expansive property in Kilgoris.