Ruto’s foreign sons-in-law: Meet Nigerian and Tanzanian men who won the hearts of his 2 daughters
By Valerian Khakayi, August 10, 2026President William Ruto’s family has remained a subject of public interest, with the relationships and marriages of his children occasionally attracting attention beyond Kenya.
The spotlight is currently on Charlene Chelagat, who on Saturday, August 8, 2026, held her traditional Koito ceremony with Tanzanian technology entrepreneur Isaya Yunge in Kilgoris, Narok County.
The colourful ceremony brought together the two families and marked a major milestone in Charlene and Yunge’s relationship, with the occasion also attracting prominent guests.
Charlene’s union has added another international connection to the Ruto family, coming five years after her elder sister June married Nigerian academic Dr Alexander Ezenagu.
With the two sisters now linked to men from Tanzania and Nigeria, respectively, their relationships have created cross-border family ties for the President.
Charlene and Isaya Yunge
Charlene has built a public profile through her involvement in youth empowerment, climate change and other initiatives.
Despite her visibility, she has largely kept her romantic life private, making her relationship with Yunge a subject of considerable public interest.
On the other hand, Yunge is a Tanzanian technology entrepreneur who has maintained a relatively low profile compared with his now-famous Kenyan in-laws.
The couple’s relationship became increasingly public as they moved towards marriage, culminating in the Koito ceremony in Kilgoris.
Additionally, the traditional ceremony was significant, as it brought together the two families and marked an important step in the union.
Yunge’s Tanzanian background also means Charlene’s marriage has created a direct connection between the Ruto family and Tanzania.
The ceremony offered a glimpse into the couple’s journey while placing Charlene at the centre of public attention.
June Ruto and Alexander Ezenagu
Before Charlene’s union with Yunge, June Ruto had already brought an international dimension to the family through her marriage to Nigerian academic Dr Alexander Ezenagu.
June married Ezenagu in May 2021 in a private ceremony in Nairobi after the two families had formally come together for traditional wedding proceedings.
Ezenagu is a legal scholar whose areas of expertise include international taxation and commercial law.
At the time of his marriage to June, he was an assistant professor at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar.
His academic career has seen him work in international academic circles, while June has also pursued a career that has taken her into diplomatic and public service.
June served at Kenya’s embassy in Warsaw, Poland, adding an international dimension to her own professional journey.
Her marriage to Ezenagu attracted attention not only because of his Nigerian heritage but also because June is the daughter of Kenya’s president.
The union brought together the Ruto family and Ezenagu’s Nigerian family, with Kenyan and Nigerian traditions featuring in the wedding celebrations.
International family connections
Charlene’s and June’s marriages have consequently given the Ruto family links to two different East and West African countries.
June’s marriage connected the family to Nigeria, while Charlene’s union has created a Kenyan-Tanzanian connection.
Beyond their famous family background, however, both sisters have largely charted their own paths in the public eye.
June has focused on diplomacy and international affairs, while Charlene has become particularly associated with youth initiatives and climate-related advocacy.
Their relationships have nonetheless continued to attract public interest, reflecting the fascination that often surrounds the personal lives of members of Kenya’s first family.