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Rachel Ruto urges young people to embrace marriage weeks after Charlene’s Koito
23rd August, 2026 07:10 AM
First Lady Rachel Ruto has encouraged young people to embrace commitment and formalise their unions, saying strong marriages and stable families can help build stronger communities.
Rachel made the remarks in a post shared on her Instagram page on Saturday, August 22, 2026, where she reflected on marriage, commitment and the importance of building lasting families.
She said marriage should be approached with love, friendship and a shared sense of purpose, while encouraging young people to take deliberate steps towards building stable relationships.
“Marriage is a beautiful journey founded on love, commitment, friendship and shared purpose,” Rachel said.
She added that she was encouraged to see young people choosing commitment and working towards building families.
Rachel calls for commitment
The First Lady urged more young people to consider formalising their relationships, noting that stable families play an important role in society.
“I encourage more young people to embrace commitment and formalise their unions, recognising that strong marriages and stable families are an important foundation for strong communities and a thriving nation,” she said.
Her message comes shortly after her daughter, Charlene Ruto, celebrated her traditional engagement and farewell ceremony with her mother playing a major role in the preparations.
Charlene praises her mother
Charlene, President William Ruto’s daughter, held her Kalenjin Koito ak Chaik ceremony on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at the Ruto family’s Intonna Heritage Farm in Kilgoris, Narok County.
The traditional ceremony brought together family members, friends and senior political figures as Charlene and Tanzanian technology entrepreneur Isaya Yunge marked an important stage in their relationship.
Following the ceremony, Charlene shared details of her mother’s involvement in preparing for the occasion. Charlene said she mainly shared her ideas, approved designs, and concluded discussions, while Rachel handled much of the work behind the scenes.
“My mama was my everything as I planned my koito ak chaik,” Charlene wrote.
She went on to explain that Rachel helped turn her ideas into reality, despite the demands involved in preparing for the ceremony. “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.
A traditional family celebration
The Koito ak Chaik ceremony is a traditional Kalenjin engagement and farewell ceremony that brings together families as they mark an important stage in a couple’s relationship.
During the ceremony, President William Ruto and Rachel formally welcomed Yunge into the family.
Yunge, born on March 23, 1990, in Mwanza, Tanzania, is a technology entrepreneur and social innovator. He co-founded SomaApp, a scholarship-matching platform that connects young Africans with education opportunities.
Charlene appreciates Rachel’s support
Charlene accompanied her message with photos from the ceremony, including moments shared with her mother. Her post highlighted the role Rachel played in ensuring that the event came together according to her daughter’s plans.
Rachel’s latest message on marriage comes at a time when her family’s own celebration has brought renewed attention to traditional ceremonies and the role of family in supporting young couples.
