President William Ruto’s mother, Mama Sarah Cheruiyot, made quite the impression when she stepped out for the 63rd Mashujaa Day celebrations in Eldoret.
This year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations were held at the Kipchoge Keino Stadium.
How did Ruto’s mother turn up for Mashujaa Day?
Mama Sarah wore a vibrant floral Ankara dress, accessorised with a crisp white scarf and a chic pink cocktail hat.
She arrived at Kipchoge Keino Stadium at approximately 9:32 am and made her way straight to the VIP dais, where her stylish appearance quickly caught the eye of media crews and Kenyans following the national festivities.
Mama Sarah hails from Kamagut village in Turbo, Uasin Gishu County, in the heart of the Rift Valley.
She is widely regarded as a deeply religious and humble woman who worked hard to ensure her children received the education she herself never had access to.
President Ruto has spoken publicly about his mother’s influence on his life and values, even praising her remarkable ability to recite hymns from memory, including their lyrics and melodies.
Her dedication to her family is often cited as a defining force behind the president’s journey.
Allyou should know about Mashujaa Day 2026
The event was presided over by President Ruto himself, who arrived at around 10 am aboard a ceremonial open military Land Rover.
He inspected the guard of honour alongside security personnel, regional leaders and members of the diplomatic corps before the full programme of activities got underway.
This year’s celebrations were notable for a unique co-hosting arrangement involving three North Rift counties: Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet and Nandi.
Commemorative activities were spread across Eldoret, Iten and Kapsabet, with the arrangement designed to spotlight the region’s cultural heritage and its storied contribution to Kenya’s athletics legacy.
The venue was shifted to Kipchoge Keino Stadium after construction delays at Kamariny Stadium in Elgeyo Marakwet County meant the original site could not be ready in time.
The celebrations carried the official theme “Security, Sports and the Finance Sector (The Economy),” a nod to national development priorities as well as the North Rift’s reputation as a global centre of long-distance running excellence.
Thousands of Kenyans filled the stadium, many dressed in the national flag’s colours and traditional attire, as military parades, cultural march-pasts and performances by local musicians filled the programme.
See the photos below:
