First Lady Rachel Ruto has called on women across the country to not only take an active role in food security but also to pray for the nation’s leadership.
Speaking on March 8, 2025, during the International Women’s Day celebrations at Tom Mboya University in Homa Bay County, Rachel Ruto emphasized the importance of women supporting national leadership, urging them to pray for President William Ruto and leaders at all levels as they work to uplift the country.
“Our role as women is not limited to our homes and workplaces but extends to supporting and praying for our leaders. Let us pray for wisdom and guidance for our President and all leaders as they plan and implement programs to uplift our nation,” she added.
The First Lady also urged women to embrace kitchen and fruit gardens to enhance household food security, describing food production as an act of empowerment and self-sufficiency.
“I call upon every woman to establish a kitchen and fruit garden to boost household food security. Growing our food is an act of empowerment and self-sufficiency. A mother’s greatest joy begins at the dining table, knowing her children are well-fed and healthy,” she stated.
Rachel reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that every woman in Kenya feels valued, protected, and has equal access to opportunities, pledging to visit various counties to support initiatives spearheaded by women leaders.
“As a nation, we commit to raising our voices, supporting one another, and building a future where every woman and girl can thrive,” she said.
The event, co-hosted by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s wife, Ida Odinga, brought together key women leaders, including Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, Gender Principal Secretary Ann Wang’ombe, Finnish Ambassador to Kenya Pirkka Tapiola, and United Nations Women Representative to Kenya Antonia Sodonon.
End early pregnancies
Speaking at the event, Ida Odinga emphasized the importance of providing young girls with the opportunity to grow, study, and shape their futures without being burdened by early motherhood.
“The most important thing for us as mothers, especially for our daughters, is to ensure they grow strong, study well, and avoid what we call early pregnancies because we have seen young girls as little as 13 years old becoming mothers,” she stated.
She called on women to take an active role in educating young girls about the dangers of early pregnancies and guiding them towards responsible choices.
However, she noted that in many cases, it is older men, rather than their peers, who are responsible for impregnating young girls.
“Sometimes you find these girls are impregnated by older men, not their peers. I would like to tell these men with such behaviour; Please step back and give these young girls the opportunity to grow and study,” she stated.
Taking a firm legal stance, she reminded the public that engaging in any sexual relationship with a minor is a crime, warning perpetrators that the law is clear on the matter.
“Anybody who marries a girl who is less than 21 years old is committing defilement. If you engage with a child under 18, you are defiling that child. Even if you claim she agreed, there is no such thing as consent. You are defiling that child, and that is a crime,” she asserted.