Kenya's First Lady, Mama Rachel Ruto, has called on young people across the country to embrace the institution of marriage. She described it as a beautiful journey that helps to build a strong nation. Her message comes during a busy wedding season for the first family.
The First Lady shared her message following the traditional pre-wedding ceremony of Brian and Mercy in Kapsabet. The event, held in Nandi County on Saturday, 22 August 2026, celebrated Brian, who is widely known as her nephew.
'A Beautiful Journey'
Mama Rachel Ruto took to social media to congratulate the young couple. In her post, she shared her thoughts on the value of formalising relationships. She noted that strong families are crucial for the development of society.
She also expressed joy at seeing the younger generation choose family-building.
"It is encouraging to see young people choosing to honour their relationships and take intentional steps towards building strong and lasting families," she added.
"I encourage more young people to embrace commitment and formalise their unions, recognising that strong marriages and stable families are an important foundation for strong communities and a thriving nation,” she added.
A Festive Month for the First Family
The pre-wedding ceremony in Kapsabet took place just weeks after another major celebration for Kenya’s first family. On Saturday, 8 August 2026, the President's daughter, Charlene Ruto, celebrated her traditional engagement to Tanzanian technology entrepreneur Isaya Yunge.
At the Kapsabet event, Brian and Mercy blended cultural and modern styles. Brian wore a custom forest-green contemporary African outfit with gold embroidery, a fedora hat, and a traditional walking stick.
Mercy wore a modern white wedding gown wrapped in a vibrant, multi-coloured traditional leso.
Marriage Trends in Kenya
The First Lady’s advocacy for marriage aligns with existing national demographic data. According to the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS), marriage rates vary significantly by gender among young Kenyans.
The survey shows that 30.8% of young women aged 15 to 24 in Kenya are married. In contrast, only 8.3% of young men in the same age bracket are married.
The gap is also visible in the 20 to 24 age group. In this category, 49.4% of young women are married, compared to 17.1% of young men.
Furthermore, the KDHS reports that registration of these unions remains low. Only 19% of currently married women in Kenya have registered their marriages with a civil authority.
Through these high-profile family celebrations, the first family continues to spotlight the cultural and social significance of traditional marriage ceremonies in East Africa.
