Rachel Ruto
{{Short description|First Lady of Kenya since 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Rachel Ruto
| image = Rachel Ruto, First Lady of Kenya 2022 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Rachel Ruto in 2022
| office = First Lady of Kenya
| term_label = Assumed role
| term_start = 13 September 2022
| term_end =
| president = William Ruto
| predecessor = Margaret Kenyatta
| successor =
| office1 = Second Lady of Kenya
| term_label1 = In role
| term_start1 = 9 April 2013
| term_end1 = 13 September 2022
| 1blankname1 = Deputy President
| 1namedata1 = William Ruto
| predecessor1 = Pauline Musyoka
| successor1 = Dorcas Wanjiku Rigathi
| birth_name = Rachel Chebet
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|11|20|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Likuyani, Kakamega, Kenya
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse = {{marriage|William Ruto|1991}}
| children = 6, including Charlene Ruto
| alma_mater = {{Plainlist|
| occupation = Teacher
| party = UDA
| signature =
}}
Rachel Chebet Ruto (born 20 November 1969) is a Kenyan educator currently serving as the First Lady of Kenya. She is the wife of William Ruto, the fifth and current President of Kenya.
Early life
Rachel Chebet was born in Likuyani, Kakamega County, Western Region on 20 November 1968.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-05|title=Get to know the incoming first lady Rachael Ruto|url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2022-08-18-get-to-know-the-incoming-first-lady-rachael-ruto/|access-date=2022-09-22 |website=The Star|language=en}}
Education and career
She went to Likuyani Primary School, Kakamega County and thereafter proceeded to Butere Girls High School{{Cite web|last=Nyanchwani|first=Silas|title=Where Manduli, Rachel Ruto were among the best|url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/entertainment/the-standard/2001400038/where-manduli-rachel-ruto-were-among-the-best|access-date=2021-12-02|website=Standard Entertainment and Lifestyle|language=en}} for her O and A levels. She passed her advanced level education and subsequently was called to join the Kenyatta University where she pursued a Bachelor of Education (Arts) degree. She went on to earn her Master of Arts{{Cite web |date=2016-10-30|title=DP William Ruto congratulates his wife Rachel after her graduation|url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/entertainment/news/article/2000221531/dp-william-ruto-congratulates-his-wife-rachel-after-her-graduation|website=The Standard|language=en}} in 2011 at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
Although she studied Education, she did not get a chance to practice teaching for long as she voluntarily retired and ventured into entrepreneurship in the tour and travel business focused on tourist trap cities in the country.
Philanthropy and Activism
She became an advocate for women's rights and empowerment.
On 17 January 2014, Rachel Ruto was awarded the International Honorary Fellowship Award On Women Empowerment at the Binary University in Malaysia.{{cite web|url=http://www.ulizalinks.co.ke/deputy-presidents-wife-rachel-ruto-gets-awarded-prestigious-international-award/|title=Deputy President's Wife Rachel Ruto Gets Awarded With A Prestigious International Award|website=Ulizalinks.co.ke|date=17 January 2014}}
She has been championing for healthy living through physical exercise such as cycling and launched the Mama Cycling Initiative in September to promote the practice.{{Cite web|last=Mabonga|first=Masolo|date=2020-12-20|title=Rachel Ruto cycles for 146km to promote non-motorised mode of transport|url=https://www.tuko.co.ke/397501-rachel-ruto-cyles-146km-promote-motorised-mode-transport.html|access-date=2021-06-17|website=Tuko.co.ke − Kenya news.|language=en}}
In March 2023, she expressed opposition to same sex relationships, following a Kenyan Supreme Court ruling allowing LGBTQ groups to organise.{{cite web |title=Kenya’s First Lady declares national prayers against homosexuality |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/03/kenyas-first-lady-declares-national-prayers-against-homosexuality/ |website=Vanguard |access-date=6 March 2023}}
Family
Rachel and William were married in 1991{{Cite web |date=2022-09-16|title=Rachel Ruto hosts Bishop who officiated wedding with Ruto|url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2022-09-16-rachel-ruto-hosts-bishop-who-officiated-wedding-with-ruto/|access-date=2022-09-22|website=The Star|language=en}} at the AIC church. They met while they were in university at a Christian Union rally at the University of Nairobi. Rachel was studying education at Kenyatta University while her husband was taking botany and zoology at the University of Nairobi. The couple has six children including Charlene. The couple adopted baby Nadia, who had been buried alive. They named the baby Cherono, after Ruto's mother.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-22 |title=Rachel Ruto Biography, Age, Education, Family Career and Projects|url=https://whownskenya.com/index.php/2021/05/28/rachel-ruto-biography-age-education-family-career-and-projects/|access-date=2022-09-22|website=The Informer whownskenya|language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
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Category:First ladies of Kenya
Category:Kenyatta University alumni