First Lady Rachel Ruto found herself at the centre of a light-hearted moment during her visit to Embu County on Thursday, September 9, when she attempted to speak Kikuyu before a packed crowd and sent the room into laughter.
Rachel was in Embu for a meeting with members of the Joyful Women Organisation (JOYWO), a prominent Kenyan NGO that focuses on empowering women economically through table banking, financial inclusion, skills development, and household food security.
The gathering drew a large audience seated under a roofed venue, with the mood clearly warm and celebratory.
Rachel Ruto’s Kikuyu attempt goes viral
During her address, the first lady made an attempt to connect with the audience by speaking a few words in Kikuyu, the dominant language in much of Central Kenya, including Embu County.
The moment did not go quite as planned, with Rachel visibly struggling to get the words out correctly and prompting audible laughter from the congregation in attendance.
The footage, drawn from Rachel’s own livestream, was later shared widely online and quickly picked up traction.
JOYWO’s work in Kenya
Beyond the viral moment, Rachel’s Embu visit carried significant purpose. JOYWO has built a reputation across Kenya for lifting women out of poverty through community-driven financial models, and engagements with the first lady’s office have helped amplify its reach.
The gathering in Embu was consistent with Rachel Ruto’s broader public engagements focused on women’s empowerment, a theme she has championed since President William Ruto took office.
