To many Kenyans, Rachel is the model mother of the nation and for others she is a prayer warrior and pillar in President-Elect William Ruto’s colourful political career.

While her husband is always hogging the limelight because of his political exploits, Rachel cuts a motherly figure.

Although she is involved in various activities such as cycling and table banking, she is better known as more likely to go on her knees praying for her husband, family and country.

Rachel has in the past conducted prayer sessions at Salgaa along the busy Nakuru-Eldoret highway to cleanse it from numerous fatal accidents associated with it.

On other occasions, she has held fasting sessions and night vigils — praying for the country.

Speaking shortly after the Supreme Court upheld his August 9 victory, Ruto heaped praises on Rachel, saying she always prays for him before he leaves the house every day. 

Rachel has in the past visited various parts of the country praying for peace.

“I want to thank my wife Rachel who prays for me every day. Before I leave she holds my hands and prays for me,” Ruto said on Monday.

When his case was dropped by the International Criminal Court in 2016, Ruto attributed it to prayers by many people led by his Rachel, saying cheekily: “My wife was never in bed. She was always in the prayer room.”

Immediately after Chief Justice Martha Koome finished reading her judgment — declaring Ruto as the validly elected President — a video emerged of Ruto going on his knees, overwhelmed with emotions as Rachel prayed.

Youthful days

Rachel, 54, holds a Bachelor of Education Degree from Kenyatta University and a Master of Arts from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.

President-Elect Ruto has in the past narrated how they met at the university—in their youthful days—and their love blossomed, growing into blissful marriage. They met at one of the events held by Christian Union, an evangelistic group for students.

“She was a member of the choir like me, we were both members of an Evangelistic team called North Rift evangelistic team,” Ruto said in a past interview.

“We used to go for missions together in various places. She did a course in education,” he said.

Rachael, after her secondary education at Butere Girls’ High School in Kakamega county, studied Bachelor of Education Degree at Kenyatta University.

“She was posted to Kessup Girls Secondary School for teaching practice and I was generally around and that is where our love history grew from. The rest is history,” the outgoing Deputy President said.

Rachel was born in Likuyani in Kakamega.

Besides being an ardent Christian and prayer warrior, the incoming First Lady is also passionate about women empowerment and she is the brains behind the establishment of Joyful Women Organisation, which inspired the introduction of revolutionary table banking in many constituencies.

She has established various projects to help women in the society better themselves.

Table banking is where women put money on the table either monthly or weekly.

From this money, each member decides how much they want to borrow.

Other empowerment projects associated with her include: Drops of Gold, an initiative to help women get clean water for use. Many women carry water for long distances.

While touring the country, Rachel identified this problem, hence, the project which is in collaboration with the government. 

She is also a cycling enthusiast and a vocal defender of bikers in the country.