Rachel Ruto celebrates resilience of rural women, unveil empowerment initiatives in West Pokot
Rachel noted that empowering women remains one of her key priorities, noting that investments made in women have a ripple effect that benefits entire families and communities.
For many women in Kenya’s remote and marginalised regions, the day begins long before sunrise.
It starts with milking cows, preparing children for school, fetching water from distant sources and planning how to stretch meagre household earnings to meet the family’s needs.
It is this daily resilience that First Lady Rachel Ruto sought to celebrate during the Kabichbich Women Empowerment Programme in West Pokot County, where she paid tribute to women whom she described as the backbone of families, communities and the nation’s economic transformation.
Addressing hundreds of women gathered for the event earlier this week, the First Lady painted a vivid picture of the realities faced by rural women, saying their determination to provide for their families despite numerous hardships deserves recognition and support.
“Before the sun rises over these hills, long before most of the world begins its day, there is already movement in your homes. A woman is milking her cow. Another is preparing children for school. Another is walking long distances in search of water,” she said.
The First Lady observed that although many women grapple with limited resources, they continue to build businesses, support their households and contribute significantly to local economies.
“Despite counting small earnings and deciding how best to provide for her family, she still rises. She still provides. She still holds families together. And she still dares to hope. That is why today is a celebration and recognition of you,” she told the women.
Rachel noted that empowering women remains one of her key priorities, noting that investments made in women have a ripple effect that benefits entire families and communities.
“The empowerment of women is something very close to my heart because when a woman is empowered, her family, community and nation are empowered too,” she said.
She noted that women across the country continue to create opportunities through enterprise, farming, table banking and savings groups, often transforming livelihoods in areas where economic opportunities remain scarce.
The First Lady reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening households by supporting farmers, cooperatives and women-led enterprises.
She praised residents of West Pokot for embracing enterprise and community cohesion, describing the county as a region endowed not only with natural resources but also with people whose resilience offers hope for sustainable development.
“West Pokot has something precious. Not only livestock. Not only land. But people with resilience. And among those people, women are the strongest engine of transformation,” she said.
As part of efforts to boost household incomes and strengthen the dairy value chain, the First Lady presided over the handover of three bulk milk coolers to Murkwijit Farmers’ Co-operative Society, Lelan Dairy Farmers’ Co-operative Society and Saramee Farmers’ Co-operative Society.
The cooling facilities are expected to benefit more than 1,200 households by reducing post-harvest losses, improving milk quality and enabling farmers to access better markets and earn higher returns.
“I urge the cooperatives to protect and manage these facilities well so that they become centres of growth, jobs and opportunity,” she said.
The empowerment programme also focused on enhancing food security and improving household nutrition.
Hundreds of farmers received Hass avocado seedlings, which the First Lady said would provide families with an additional source of income while contributing to better nutrition.
Rachel Ruto’s visit also highlighted the importance of education in breaking the cycle of poverty.
Earlier that day, she visited Kondegel Comprehensive School, where she encouraged learners to remain focused on their studies and believe in their ability to succeed despite challenges.
“Today at Kondegel Comprehensive School in West Pokot County, I encouraged learners to stay focused, work hard, and believe in their potential. Education remains the key to unlocking opportunities and building a brighter future,” she said.
The First Lady commended the partnership between the Kenya Dairy Board and Brookside under the School Milk Programme, saying the initiative was improving the nutritional status and well-being of school-going children.
“We commend the Kenya Dairy Board and Brookside for their partnership in the School Milk Programme, which is improving the nutrition and well-being of learners,” she said.
Through the Voice of Children Initiative, Rachel Ruto donated school shoes to learners and handed over water storage tanks to Kondegel Comprehensive School and neighbouring institutions to improve access to clean and safe water.
She noted that water scarcity remains a major challenge in many arid and semi-arid areas, affecting school attendance, hygiene and learning outcomes.
The First Lady said a total of 17 schools in the region would benefit from the water project, helping create a healthier and more supportive learning environment for children.
Leaders who accompanied the First Lady welcomed the initiatives, saying they would accelerate socio-economic development in West Pokot and uplift vulnerable households.
West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin praised women for their ability to transform limited resources into meaningful economic gains for their families and communities.
He reaffirmed the county government’s commitment to partnering with the national government in implementing programmes aimed at improving livelihoods and enhancing food security.
West Pokot Senator Julius Murgor lauded the First Lady for championing the rights and welfare of women and girls, particularly through campaigns against early marriages and female genital mutilation.
Livestock Development Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke underscored the importance of the dairy sector to Kenya’s economy, noting that the country remains Africa’s leading milk producer.
He said the dairy industry provides employment and income opportunities for thousands of young people and assured farmers that the government would continue supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening livestock production and dairy value chains.
Also present at the event were Gender Cabinet Secretary Hannah Cheptumo, Public Works Principal Secretary Joel Arumonyang, Pokot South MP David Pkosing, Kapenguria MP Samuel Moroto, West Pokot Woman Representative Rael Kasiwai Aleutum, Deputy Governor Robert Komolle and North Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency Board Chairperson Prof John Lonyangapuo, among other leaders.
