• Her humble demeanour coupled with her religious attributes has earned her the admiration of many.
• For Ruto, his meteoric rise and rise in the political space is credited to Rachel's prayers.
Image: DPPS
After the confirmation of William Ruto as the fifth President-elect on Monday, Rachel Chebet Ruto, his wife, is no doubt a heartbeat away from being Kenya's next first lady.
Her humble demeanour coupled with her religious attributes has earned her the admiration of many.
For Ruto, his meteoric rise and rise in the political space is credited to Rachel's prayers.
Although she is commonly known as a prayer warrior, less is still known about the incoming first lady.
Early life
Rachel was born on November 20, 1968, in the Western part of Kenya, Kakamega county.
She went to Likuyani Primary School in Kakamega County and later proceeded to Butere Girls High School for her O and A levels.
Rachel later joined Kenyatta University for a Bachelor of Education Degree. She did a Master of Arts degree at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in 2011.
Despite excelling in her academic journey, she did not get a chance to practice as a teacher for long.
Ruto at one time in an interview said he implored her to focus on raising her family after he set up a business for her.
She ventured into the tour business, taking people throughout the country to places like Maasai Mara and Mombasa.
Second powerful woman
During her tenure as the deputy president's wife, she became an advocate for women's rights and women's empowerment.
Through the Joyful Women Organization, she has spurred a table banking initiative throughout Kenya spreading to the rest of Africa.
On 17 January 2014, Rachel Ruto was awarded the International Honorary Fellowship Award On Women Empowerment at the Binary University in Malaysia.
She has been championing for healthy living through physical exercise such as cycling and launched the Mama Cycling initiative to promote the practice.
Rachael and Ruto were married in 1991 and are now raising seven children.
She will succeed Margaret Kenyatta who has served for 10 years, and wife to incumbent president Uhuru Kenyatta.
A first lady plays a supportive role to the president.