Ruto’s wife steps to the plate in State House bid vote-hunt
Deputy President William Ruto’s wife, Rachel, has shaken off her laid back mien and thrown herself deep into the murky world of politics, as she seeks to prop up her husband’s presidential bid in the August election.
Rachel has not been known for any fervent political declarations or associations before, instead adopting a low profile in the previous three General Elections her husband has been prominently involved in. But on Wednesday, she displayed her hitherto unknown side, passionately beseeching Kenyans to support Ruto’s presidential bid, saying he was the best the country could have.
Speaking at Emali in Makueni county, Rachel asked the residents to support the her husband, saying he means well for the country. “I know the Deputy President, his heart is for the good of all Kenyans. When God blesses him, he will do many things because he denies himself (many things) for others to get,” she said.
The DP, who is the UDA party leader, is locked in a fierce presidential contest with Azimio La Umoja leader Raila Odinga as they both seek to succeed outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Ruto heads the Kenya Kwanza Alliance that also has Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi and Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetangula, among others.
Ruto has fallen out with the President, who is now leading campaigns against him within the Azimio movement that has picked Raila as its flag-bearer.
Best option
Donning the trademark yellow dress associated with her husband’s party, Rachel projected Ruto as the best option among those who have declared interest to succeed Uhuru. The DP has often come under accusations over his contributions to churches, with Raila and recently the President, questioning the source of the millions of shillings he has been donating to religious institutions. During the Sagana III meeting in Nyeri last month that brought together Mt Kenya leaders and opinion shapers, the President accused church leaders of receiving proceeds of corruption, including money meant for construction of the controversial Arror and Kimwarer dams. He indirectly implied the money could have been stolen from the collapsed projects in Elgeyo Marakwet.
“Even church leaders should stop telling lies to our people. Let us tell the truth. You are being given Sh3 billion meant for Kimwarer and Arror dams meant for the children of God, then you come to mislead us,” the President said.
While defending her husband, Rachel said the DP will not stop giving because he will be “blessed” for doing so. She stressed that nothing will stop him from giving.
“People should not be worried about his contributions. Atapeana, atapeana, atapeana, atapeana hadi hatakuwa nayo (he will give until he will not have anything left to give). The Bible says the hand that gives will be blessed,” she said.
Since the DP was elected in 2013, Rachel has focused more on social programmes aimed at improving the lives of women and has avoided dragging politics into them.
She has also been the force behind regular prayer meetings held at their Karen home where senior church figures are often hosted. As she steps away from her comfort zone, however, she is expected to focus on mobilising women, especially the thousands who have subscribed to the Joyful Women Organisation, the self-help group she has been a patron since the first term of the Jubilee administration.
Active members
On its website, the organisation says it has more than 100,000 active members who have been placed in 6,000 groups. It has a revolving fund of Sh1.2 billion.
As a new entrant into the political arena where optics is everything, Rachel appears to have learned quickly the little tricks politicians employ to showcase support as she asked those present in Makueni to raise their hands to confirm if indeed they will vote for Ruto.
Also, like her husband who is fond of identifying allies by their names during his rallies, Rachel did the same during the function as she appreciated those who accompanied her including Makueni Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau, who recently joined UDA.
Her readiness to stand by the DP, who she has been married to for more than 30 years and have been blessed with six children, was affirmed when she accompanied him to the UDA National Delegates Conference in Kasarani last week.
She brought her two daughters, June and Charlene alongside her, walking the DP to the podium to formally accept nomination to be UDA’s flag bearer.
Deputy President William Ruto’s wife, Rachel, has shaken off her laid back mien and thrown herself deep into the murky world of politics, as she seeks to prop up her husband’s presidential bid in the August election.
Rachel has not been known for any fervent political declarations or associations before, instead adopting a low profile in the previous three General Elections her husband has been prominently involved in. But on Wednesday, she displayed her hitherto unknown side, passionately beseeching Kenyans to support Ruto’s presidential bid, saying he was the best the country could have.
Speaking at Emali in Makueni county, Rachel asked the residents to support the her husband, saying he means well for the country. “I know the Deputy President, his heart is for the good of all Kenyans. When God blesses him, he will do many things because he denies himself (many things) for others to get,” she said.
The DP, who is the UDA party leader, is locked in a fierce presidential contest with Azimio La Umoja leader Raila Odinga as they both seek to succeed outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Ruto heads the Kenya Kwanza Alliance that also has Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi and Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetangula, among others.
Ruto has fallen out with the President, who is now leading campaigns against him within the Azimio movement that has picked Raila as its flag-bearer.
Best option
Donning the trademark yellow dress associated with her husband’s party, Rachel projected Ruto as the best option among those who have declared interest to succeed Uhuru. The DP has often come under accusations over his contributions to churches, with Raila and recently the President, questioning the source of the millions of shillings he has been donating to religious institutions. During the Sagana III meeting in Nyeri last month that brought together Mt Kenya leaders and opinion shapers, the President accused church leaders of receiving proceeds of corruption, including money meant for construction of the controversial Arror and Kimwarer dams. He indirectly implied the money could have been stolen from the collapsed projects in Elgeyo Marakwet.
“Even church leaders should stop telling lies to our people. Let us tell the truth. You are being given Sh3 billion meant for Kimwarer and Arror dams meant for the children of God, then you come to mislead us,” the President said.
While defending her husband, Rachel said the DP will not stop giving because he will be “blessed” for doing so. She stressed that nothing will stop him from giving.
“People should not be worried about his contributions. Atapeana, atapeana, atapeana, atapeana hadi hatakuwa nayo (he will give until he will not have anything left to give). The Bible says the hand that gives will be blessed,” she said.
Since the DP was elected in 2013, Rachel has focused more on social programmes aimed at improving the lives of women and has avoided dragging politics into them.
She has also been the force behind regular prayer meetings held at their Karen home where senior church figures are often hosted. As she steps away from her comfort zone, however, she is expected to focus on mobilising women, especially the thousands who have subscribed to the Joyful Women Organisation, the self-help group she has been a patron since the first term of the Jubilee administration.
Active members
On its website, the organisation says it has more than 100,000 active members who have been placed in 6,000 groups. It has a revolving fund of Sh1.2 billion.
As a new entrant into the political arena where optics is everything, Rachel appears to have learned quickly the little tricks politicians employ to showcase support as she asked those present in Makueni to raise their hands to confirm if indeed they will vote for Ruto.
Also, like her husband who is fond of identifying allies by their names during his rallies, Rachel did the same during the function as she appreciated those who accompanied her including Makueni Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau, who recently joined UDA.
Her readiness to stand by the DP, who she has been married to for more than 30 years and have been blessed with six children, was affirmed when she accompanied him to the UDA National Delegates Conference in Kasarani last week.
She brought her two daughters, June and Charlene alongside her, walking the DP to the podium to formally accept nomination to be UDA’s flag bearer.
