Since assuming office in 2022, President William Ruto’s daughter Charlene Ruto has undoubtedly been the most visible of Ruto’s children.
The Daystar University mass communication graduate has attended and spoken at several public forums, mostly on youth affairs.
She recently stoked public outrage after her comment urging youths to “stop being lazy” and seek employment opportunities.
Speaking on Citizen TV, Charlene implied that “most youth are lazy” increasing the unemployment rate in Kenya.
“The best thing we can do for our young people is create opportunities for them. I’d like to call on our young people, let’s not sit and be lazy,” she said.
“I cannot tell you the amount of CVs and the requests for jobs on my desk. If you are passionate about something, don’t give up on that. Reach out to us, and give us your ideas. I give a listening ear to somebody who has already started something and I can see where they are going and I can put something in other than somebody who is like give me a job…which job…? Where am I going to get it from? She added.
Children of Kenyan Billionaires running multimillion empires
The 31-year-old also previously stirred a debate online after claiming that she got her start in business selling smokies at Daystar University.
While netizens dismissed Charlene’s sentiments as a load of hot air, she is indeed a businesswoman worth millions of shillings.
Charlene has been involved in a string of businesses associated with Ruto’s family, notably in the hospitality and Real estate sectors. Reportedly, the president’s daughter has also tried her hand in agriculture and beekeeping.
In 2018, she was appointed Director of Branding and Public Relations at Weston Hotel, a 3-star hotel along Lang’ata Road owned by Ruto.
She is also a shareholder in Weston Hotel Limited, the company that operates the hotel, with 10,013 shares to her name.
Through Weston Hotel, Ruto and his family expanded their empire through the construction of the Dolphin Hotel in Mombasa, whose construction was estimated at KSh 600 million.
Other assets under Charlene’s name include Matiny Limited, a real estate company which she co-owns with her mother First Lady Rachel Ruto. Charlene allegedly owns one share at Matiny Limted while her mother owns six shares.
