Première Dame Rachel Ruto has been honored in the United States for her support of women’s empowerment in Kenya.
Rachel was awarded a recognition certificate at an event on the sidelines of UNGA 79 in the US organized by the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD).
The first ladies, who accompanied heads of state to the UN General Assembly event, met to launch the #WeAreEqual campaign.
Kenyan First Lady was honored for her work addressing gender challenges in Kenya under the campaign since 2023.
“As First Ladies of Africa, we are ambassadors for our countries and partners in development, dedicated to addressing the pressing challenges faced by millions of women and children across the continent,” said Rachel Ruto.
Rachel Ruto Explains the role of OAFLAD
The First Lady explained that the African First Ladies came together in 2023 to start the campaign aimed at championing equality.
Their campaign is premised on four pillars including health, education, women’s economic empowerment, and the fight against gender-based violence.
The US meeting was meant to help them reflect on their journey so far and what is to come.
“In 2023, we united around the #WeAreEqual campaign, driven by four key pillars: health, education, women’s economic empowerment, and the fight against gender-based violence.
“We met on the sidelines of UNGA 79 to reflect on our progress and embark on a new phase of this journey: #WeAreEqualInAction. We are determined to close gender gaps across Africa by adopting a partner-led approach that strengthens our collective vision,” she added.
Rachel also noted that the organization held a powerful position globally allowing the first ladies to mobilize resources, convene and ultimately impact Africa.
“We will succeed because we are hungry for change and passionate about the future of our continent and our people. We will create a future where every African child, every woman, and every man thrives.
“With your continued participation, we can dream bigger, act faster, and go further,” she added.
What is OAFLA
The Organization of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA) was formed in 2002, by African First Ladies to be a voice for women and children living with and affected by HIV and AIDS.
However, over the years, OAFLA evolved to become an institution offering continent-wide leadership in terms of advocacy in the areas of HIV and a broad range of maternal and child health interventions.
