President William Ruto was joined by several senior government officials and political leaders on Friday, November 6, as he attended the wedding of his daughter, Charlene Ruto, and Tanzanian businessman Isaya Yunge in Mwanza.
The ceremony, held at Malaika Beach Resort along the shores of Lake Victoria, attracted prominent Kenyan personalities who travelled to Tanzania to celebrate with the First Family.
Among those who attended were National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.
Other notable guests included Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, Nandi Governor Stephen Sang and Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo.
Mbeere North MP Leo Wa Muthende, Medical Services Principal Secretary Dr Ouma Oluga, Water and Sanitation Principal Secretary Julius Korir and KeRRA Board Chairperson Anthony Mwaura were also present.
Comedian Eddie Butita and his partner Celest Terer were among the other personalities who attended the celebrations.
President Ruto travelled to Mwanza on Thursday, November 5, accompanied by First Lady Mama Rachel Ruto, Oscar Sudi, family members and other associates.
Kindiki missing from list of wedding guests
One of the notable differences between the wedding and the couple’s earlier traditional engagement ceremony was the absence of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki from the reported list of attendees.
Kindiki was among the senior government officials who attended Charlene and Isaya’s traditional Kalenjin engagement ceremony, popularly known as Koito, held on August 8 at Intonna Heritage Farm in Kilgoris, Narok County.
Other leaders who attended the traditional ceremony included Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi and several Cabinet Secretaries.
However, Kindiki was not named among the guests identified at Friday’s white wedding in Mwanza.
The reported absence comes as several senior members of the government travelled across the border to join the President and his family for the occasion.
Oparanya, Wetang’ula send congratulatory messages
Meanwhile, several Kenyan leaders took to social media to congratulate Charlene and Isaya as they began their married life.
Co-operatives and MSMEs Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya wished the couple a happy marriage, praying for God’s blessings in their union.
“Congratulations to Charlene and Isaya Yunge on your wedding as you begin this beautiful new chapter of your lives together. May your union be filled with love, joy, unwavering commitment and God’s abundant blessings in every season of your marriage,” Oparanya said.
Wetang’ula also congratulated the newlyweds, describing marriage as an institution that brings families, traditions and communities together.
“Marriage is a true covenant that not only unites two people but also brings together families, traditions and communities,” the Speaker said.
He wished Charlene and Isaya a marriage filled with love, affection and patience.
Why Charlene’s wedding was held in Tanzania
The white wedding followed the couple’s traditional Koito ceremony held in August at the Ruto family’s residence in Kilgoris.
Under the Kalenjin marriage tradition followed by the two families, the bride’s family hosts the traditional engagement ceremony, while the groom’s family takes responsibility for the subsequent wedding celebrations.
Isaya Yunge hails from Mwanza, Tanzania, explaining why his family hosted the white wedding in the lakeside city.
The celebrations brought together relatives and friends from both countries as Charlene and Isaya formally began their married life.