Charlene Ruto’s Engagement Ceremony Draws Mixed Reactions
- Kenyan President William Ruto's daughter, Charlene, celebrated her engagement to her Tanzanian lover, Isaya Yunge, on Saturday, August 08, 2026, at her father's expansive ranch in Kilgoris, Narok County, and the event has been celebrated and criticized in equal measure.
The Kenyan First Daughter, Charlene Ruto, got engaged to her Tanzanian lover and businessman, Isaya Yunge, at a glamorous event held on Saturday, August 08, 2026, at her father’s Intona Ranch in Kilgoris, Narok County.
The closely guarded event was attended by top public figures from the East African region, including President William Ruto and his deputy Prof. Kithure Kindiki. This traditional engagement event, which is locally referred to as Koito, happens when the groom’s family formally visits the bride’s family for introductions and bride price negotiations.
Traditional attire with a touch of elegance, local cuisine, cultural dances, and performances marked the colorful ceremony. It culminated with the bride and the groom receiving marital blessings from their families.
President Ruto prayed for the union and the couple’s future together, promising to stand with them throughout their journey in marriage.
“Today, Mama Rachel Ruto and I celebrate with grateful hearts as our daughter Charlene begins a beautiful new chapter with her fiancé, Isaya Yunge. As your parents, we are proud of you, we rejoice with you, and we will always stand beside you,” the President said.
Standout Moments
As expected, the occasion has sparked online buzz across East Africa, with some people congratulating the young couple and wishing them the best in their marriage. But others have thrown all kinds of jabs at them, even criticizing Charlene’s engagement dress.
Although she wore two dresses during the ceremony: a brown one and a green one, her critics weren’t impressed by the green dress. They questioned how a President’s daughter could make such an obvious wardrobe mishap on such an important occasion.
“Truth be said the waistline was messed up,” Dayona Sheridan said in a Facebook comment.
Charlene has since revealed her designer and apologized for the mishap, saying she didn’t like the first dress the designer made, and so the designer had to come up with a whole new design at the last minute.
High-profile guests made grand arrivals in choppers and luxurious SUVs while donning their brown and green African attire. This elegance gave the traditional ceremony a glamorous feel while still respecting its cultural roots.
One notable guest at the event was CNN’s African correspondent Larry Madowo, who many Kenyans thought wasn’t supposed to honor the invitation given his perceived bad blood with President William Ruto’s administration.
“Me unfollowing you may not make a difference but I have still done it. I am also judging you because I have a feeling that going forward you might be biased in your coverage,” @edith_kags commented on X.
It’s an engagement ceremony that has drawn mixed reactions, especially from young Kenyans who continue to express their dissatisfaction with President Ruto’s administration.