First Lady Rachel Ruto hosts NALSA(K) Members at State House
On the 31st March 2023, over 140 spouses to Members of the 13th National Assembly paid a visit to our NALSA(K) patron, Her Excellency Mama Rachel Ruto EGH, at the State House, a gathering that was not only inspiring but also graceful.
As the lady spouses of MPs, we were encouraged by Minister Sally Mahihu, Chairperson of Kenya Investment Authority, to know who we are, know what we are passionate about – what it is that causes us to lose sleep at night – and that each one of us is created and anointed to solve a particular problem within our respective spaces of influence. Indeed, each of us must stand and be accountable for our impact apart from our support to our spouses.
Mama Rachel’s Strategic Pillars
Her Excellency the First Lady, through her Chief of Staff Nancy Salamba and Dr J. K. Chumo – CEO of Mama Doing Good, articulated the three strategic pillars she intends to use to transform and partner with persons from all walks of life in this nation.
First, she seeks to help Kenyan women build their livelihoods and businesses and be included in the economic transformation. Mama Rachel has been walking this journey through Joyful Women Organization for 15 years now, with about 11,000 groups on board and counting.
Her Excellency’s second pillar, environment and climate action, seeks to address the challenges faced in the green and blue economy, as well as the health and wellness of communities. Some of those activities that her team is looking at are nature-based businesses, modern and intentional farming, adopting waste management and recycling, and planting trees. She further encouraged us to adopt our local forests stating that she has already adopted the Kakamega Forest, where she will plant trees.
Due to the severe drought experienced in the nation, Mama Rachel stated that she would combat the menace by planting 500 million trees by 2032, all undertaken by women.
In the third pillar, Faith Diplomacy, the First Lady seeks to address the family and national values in communities across the nation, that is to incorporate family value-based teachings, keeping children in schools through the Mama feeding programme, which feeds children in informal settlements, using Faith as a tool for promoting cohesion, peace and development.
For Her Excellency Mama Rachel to achieve her agenda to create an equitable society and a happy, transformed life, she is guided by these 5Cs:
1. Convene
2. Connect
3. Collaborate
4. Catalyse, and
5. Celebrate
Mama Rachel reflects on her journey
In addition to sharing her agenda with us, Her Excellency Mama Rachel, while sharing her own journey as a spouse of a member of the National Assembly, reminded us that the best thing in life is to take the first step. “Start small and aim for the stars,” she encouraged us.
She also challenged us that, as members of the Association, we should inspire and encourage each other to create a beautiful movement of change makers.
President Ruto’s address
On his part, His Excellency President Dr William Ruto, while welcoming us to the State House, said he was pleased to note that one of our objectives is to offer a supportive role to our spouses. “Beyond politics and its challenges, it is always good to be assured of a supportive and welcoming spouse and family.” He told us that this was a very noble thing.
Dr Ruto was also impressed by the measures the Association has taken over the last term to achieve some of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He called on us to support the greening of Kenya, reminding us that it must be taken as a Kenyan Project.
We are indeed looking forward to partnering and collaborating with our patron, Her Excellency Mama Rachel Ruto, as NALSA(K) through our objectives:
a. To enhance the socio-economic growth of women, youth and children through grass root and national efforts
b. To establish partnerships and linkages with organizations with similar mandates
c. To facilitate the preservation of our environment for posterity
Further meetings will be organized for us to ensure that we win together.
Photos courtesy of The Office of the First Lady