Charlene Ruto credits parents for inspiring her passion for beekeeping
By Mustafa Juma, August 20, 2025President William Ruto’s daughter, Charlene Ruto, has revealed how her childhood experiences shaped her enduring love for agriculture and beekeeping.
Taking to her official X account on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, Charlene reflected on last week’s Devolution Conference 2025 in Homa Bay County, describing her father’s visit to her stand as “the honour of my life.”
She further shared that her passion for farming and climate action was inspired by the values instilled by her parents during family trips to the village.
“Last week was so surreal, and I am still recovering from it! It was the honour of my life to have my father, in his official capacity as president, visit our stand at the Devolution Conference 2025 in Homa Bay County, Kenya. Every Easter and Christmas, he would always take my siblings and me to Ushago (the village) for a month or more, and honestly, I would really have rather stayed in Nairobi hanging out with my friends,” she stated.
Charlene’s foundation
Citing Proverbs 22:6 — “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” — Charlene said she never imagined that those childhood experiences would later inspire her to establish her foundation, the SMACHS Organisation, which promotes beekeeping, agriculture, and climate action.
“Proverbs 22:6 says: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” I would never have imagined that, fast forward twenty-plus years later, I would have developed such a firm passion and love for beekeeping, agriculture, and climate action, and even started a whole foundation just for it. @smachs_org. Thanks, Paps and Mama, for bringing me up in the way I should go!” Charlene wrote on X.
Charlene praises Ruto
This is not the first time Charlene has heaped the head of state with praises. During the just-concluded Devolution Conference, Charlene showered her father with praise for the farm upbringing and work ethic he instilled in her from a young age, particularly his passion for agriculture and environmental conservation.
Charlene made her remarks on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, during a booth visit by her father, who was officially opening the 12th Devolution Conference in Homa Bay County.
At the time, Charlene recalled how her visits to her rural home, coordinated by her father, the Head of State, shaped her commitment to national development initiatives.
“You know you brought me up in the farms every Easter, every Christmas; we used to go to Ushago, and this is the work that has come from it. We are working with traditional beekeepers,” Charlene noted.
Charlene also revealed that under youth-led environmental initiatives, they have already planted 754,000 trees in support of the government’s 15 billion tree campaign, a flagship programme aimed at tackling climate change and deforestation.
“We are also working with young people in agriculture, and we have planted 754,000 trees as young people to contribute to the 15 Billion Tree campaign,” Charlene said.