{
  "id": 5338976,
  "title": "Rachel Ruto hails Waiguru’s women empowerment record as Joyful Women celebrate gains in Kirinyaga",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/rachel-ruto-hails-waigurus-women-empowerment-record-as-joyful-women",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-03T13:25:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "KBC",
    "slug": "kbc",
    "url": "https://www.kbc.co.ke/rachel-ruto-hails-waigurus-women-empowerment-record-as-joyful-women-celebrate-gains-in-kirinyaga/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "First Lady Rachel Ruto commended Governor Anne Waiguru for her commitment to women's leadership and economic empowerment in Kirinyaga county. Speaking at a Joyful Women Organization empowerment forum, Ruto highlighted how women in Kirinyaga had played a vital role in sustaining families and driving the local economy for generations. She emphasized that Kirinyaga was among the first counties to elect a woman governor, demonstrating the potential of women leaders. Ruto encouraged women to become entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders in Kenya's transformation, emphasizing that women should not be sidelined. She pointed to the county's agricultural wealth and emerging industrial economy, citing key industries such as rice, coffee, tea, avocado, and poultry production. Ruto highlighted the success of the Kaitheri Apparel Centre, where women have turned tailoring into a profitable business producing hospital linen and school uniforms. Governor Waiguru welcomed the First Lady and emphasized the county's focus on empowerment programs aimed at giving women and vulnerable groups the means to build sustainable livelihoods. Over the past nine years, more than 35,000 residents in Kirinyaga have benefited from various county interventions, including the provision of various resources and assistance devices. The county has also established the Kirinyaga County Empowerment and Development Fund, which has allocated Ksh.90 million to provide women, youth, and persons with disabilities access to capital, training, and financing for income-generating activities. Waiguru stressed that investing in women uplifts families and transforms communities. During the forum, Ruto provided practical support to Kirinyaga families, farmers, and small-scale traders, distributing essential items such as beans, rice, blankets, mosquito nets, soap, and mattresses, as well as coffee and avocado seedlings. She emphasized that these efforts complement the county's ongoing empowerment programs. Women beneficiaries shared their success stories, with Eva Mwangi, a Joyful Group member, highlighting how her business grew significantly through Joyful Women's support and access to loans. Susan Wanjiku Maina shared how empowerment through Joyful Women helped her expand her horticulture and dairy farming activities and finance her child's university education. Joyful Women CEO Elizabeth Koskei emphasized the organization's 17-year history, its membership of 3,058 women in 326 groups, and its mission to empower women. She praised Kirinyaga women as a powerful contributor to the county's economy and stressed the importance of capacity-building programs for women-owned enterprises.",
  "summary": "First Lady Rachel Ruto has praised Governor Anne Waiguru for championing women’s leadership and economic empowerment in Kirinyaga, saying the county’s progress demonstrates what is possible when women are given opportunities to lead and prosper. Speaking during a Joyful Women Organization empowerment forum in Kirinyaga on Thursday, Rachel said women in the county had for […] The post Rachel Ruto…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}