First Daughter Charlene Ruto has attributed her passion for farming to the values instilled in her by her father, President William Ruto. Speaking at the ongoing biennial Devolution Conference in Homa Bay, Charlene met the President at a beekeeping exhibition stand where she showcased her agribusiness work.
“You know, every Easter, every Christmas, we used to go to the village, and this is the work that has come from me,” she told the Head of State, crediting her upbringing for shaping her agricultural journey. “We are working with traditional beekeepers so that we can modernise practices.”
Charlene reaffirmed her commitment, alongside Kenyan youth, to supporting the President’s plan to increase the country’s forest cover. She revealed that her initiative has already planted 754,000 trees as part of the government’s 15-billion-tree campaign. “Thank you for your mentorship,” she told her father.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, who accompanied the President during his tour of innovation and agribusiness displays, remarked with a smile, “She is a Homa Baiyan,” acknowledging Charlene’s participation in the county event.
Charlene, who runs a beekeeping enterprise, said her farming roots trace back to childhood holidays spent in the family’s rural home. In an earlier TV interview, she recalled initially resisting the trips to the village but now appreciates the lessons they taught. “At that time, I did not appreciate it and did not want to go, but now I see the value of the seed planted back then,” she said.
The family’s initial interest in beekeeping was to enhance pollination on their farm. However, Charlene began viewing it through an agribusiness lens, identifying opportunities to turn it into both a profitable venture and a community development project. She encouraged her neighbours to join the practice, and her initiative now works with local farmers to modernise traditional methods.
Beyond producing honey and other bee products, her work contributes to environmental conservation through large-scale tree planting. By merging modern agricultural techniques with community engagement, Charlene Ruto is not only carrying forward her family’s farming legacy but also shaping a sustainable future for rural communities across Kenya.
