‘I never imagined I’d be First Lady’ – Rachel Ruto narrates humble beginnings with President

By , K24 Digital
On Thu, 29 Sep, 2022 20:55 | 3 mins read
'I never imagined I'd be first lady' - Rachel Ruto narrates humble beginnings with President
First Lady Rachel Ruto with President William Ruto earlier today before the Head of State addressed joint Parliament for the first time. PHOTO/Facebook

First Lady Rachel Ruto has broken the downtrodden state that she, alongside President William Ruto used to be in over three decades ago.

In an emotional statement on her official Facebook Account, Ruto's spouse revealed that back in 1991, the two used to live in a simple house at Dagoretti, Nairobi.

Rachael revealed that while the late President Daniel Arap Moi was heeding calls for multiparty politics in a small ceremony presided over by Bishop Emeritus Silas Yego of the AIC church, she was vowing to love and live with Ruto.

During the early years, Rachael unearths that she nicknamed her husband Bill, a name that she still calls him today.

First Lady Rachel Ruto inside Parliament as President William Ruto officiated the first sitting of the 13th Parliament. 
PHOTO/Facebook
First Lady Rachel Ruto inside Parliament as President William Ruto officiated the first sitting of the 13th Parliament.
PHOTO/Facebook

"We had little in possession, but an abundance of hope and faith. The humility of our beginning cemented our love for each other and sowed in us the virtue of selflessness. Bill, a young and ambitious family man, sent himself out to fend for us," she narrated.

Six years later...

In 1997, six years after starting the journey of marriage with a young family to raise, Ruto became Eldoret North MP at the age of 31.

"That move changed our family life forever. Gradually he rose through the political ranks, assuming new leadership roles," she added.

The first lady's narrative is that due to increased roles precipitated by political growth, Ruto would hardly find time for the family.

"Bill no longer belonged to us. He was the property of the electorates. The public, the people he led, and I became a mother to many. Our doors were opened, every day, to the needs of the people," she highlighted.

"Reminiscing those early days, having to nurse my own children and nurture many others who saw a mother in me, if you told me I would someday become The First Lady, I would have laughed it off as a bad joke," she said.

But Ruto, she said was seeing things differently as he pronounced nothing but greatness for himself and us all.

"If you would tell him then, that he would someday become the President, I'm certain he would have smiled, and replied with an, "Amen!" " she added.

Rachel Ruto's pledge

As he continues to lead the country, Rachael vowed to remain motherly and a wife.

"I still want to be the Chebet he married three decades ago. His supportive wife Chichi, caring mother of his children and the accommodative First Lady of the People of Kenya. I will ensure our doors are open, even wider and our tables set, even broader. That House on the Hill will not be an unreachable tower but a place of motherly comfort for Kenyans from all walks of life," she committed.

Rachel spoke after accompanying President William Ruto during his first address to Parliament when he also inspected the first guard of honour for the first time as the Head of State.

First Lady Rachel Ruto following closely during President William Ruto's first address to Parliament.
PHOTO/Facebook
First Lady Rachel Ruto following closely during President William Ruto's first address to Parliament.
PHOTO/Facebook