Jill Biden leaves for US after 3-day visit in Kenya
By naomi.njoroge, February 26, 2023
US First Lady Jill Biden left Nairobi on Sunday, February 26, after completing her 3-day tour in Kenya as part of her 5-day tour of Africa that featured Namibia.
Jill was seen off at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by President William Ruto, her host First Lady Rachel Ruto, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and a host of both Kenyan and US officials including US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whiteman.
In her three-day stay, Jill Biden convened meetings with women leaders and entrepreneurs.
On Saturday, she lauded the table banking movement for enhancing financial inclusion for women in low-income areas when she met women in Kibra.
Jill, accompanied by her host Rachel Ruto, who has been spearheading table banking initiatives under her Joyful Women Organization, said the movement had made communities and the country stronger.
“With every thriving business, with every scientific breakthrough, with every act of kindness — each of the amazing women I met today in Kenya is making their community and country stronger,” she said.
The First Lady @MamaRachelRuto accompanied The First Lady of the United States, @DrBiden today who visited the Women for Peace Group in Kibera, to gain firsthand experience of the highly effective table banking model. @FLOTUS pic.twitter.com/1xvtkxkS0r
— The First Lady Kenya (@FirstLadyKenya) February 25, 2023
Jill engaged partners working under the United States-funded President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, PEPFAR.
She also met farmers using US-made tractors.
Jill Biden meets women leaders
Jill met women leaders on Friday, moments after arrival and she explained that her trip to Kenya was motivated by the need to listen to and support women empowerment initiatives in the country.
“Women are the engine behind the community. When women earn money they invest it into the community, when women get the opportunities that they deserve, there is no limit to what they can do,” Jill stated.
She lauded Kenyan women leaders “who have fought to be where they are” saying they are mentors to the next generation.
“Thank you for having the courage to run for office, to start a business, to push science to new places and thank you for mentoring the next generation of women,” she stated.