Former First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has shared her transformative leadership journey at the Global First Ladies Academy Programme in New York, USA.

In a statement on Monday, July 15, 2024, the office of former President Uhuru Kenyatta said the VIP dinner was organized by the Global First Ladies Alliance in collaboration with Columbia Mailman School of Public Health.

The dinner event provided a platform for both current and former First Ladies to connect and collaborate with key partners dedicated to health and development.

Margaret Kenyatta shared that she was moved by the high rates of maternal and child deaths in Kenya, and committed herself to advocating for mothers and children.

This commitment led to the founding of the Beyond Zero Initiative, which became a symbol of hope and change. The initiative’s impact highlighted the potential of a single, well-executed idea to bring about significant improvements.

One of her notable efforts included participating in marathons to raise awareness and funds for maternal and child health. She notably ran the London Marathon, which helped bring international attention to maternal health issues.

“I committed to run the famous London Marathon—all 42 kilometres of it! I hoped to elevate the visibility of this important issue in the international arena and raise funds to support my cause,” the former First Lady shared.

She highlighted the crucial role of collaboration and partnership in achieving lasting change, recognizing the contributions of various partners that supported the Beyond Zero movement.

“Leveraging my multiple roles as First Lady was made possible because of the ripple effect of the solid partnerships and friends we made along the way. It demonstrated how collective efforts towards a shared destiny can bring transformative change,” she noted.