President William Ruto’s arguably most visible child, Charlene Ruto has come under heavy criticism after claiming that she used to sell Smokie Kachumbari while at Daystar University.

In the footage, Charlene was seen addressing student leaders at the University of Nairobi.

Excitement filled the room as her remarks threw most students into laughter, most of them saying “Hiyo ni Uongo, aaai mtoto wa deputy president” (That is a lie! The deputy president’s child?).

She said that her father pushed her to start the business, as it was a way for her to earn money while still on campus, in what was seen as an attempt to promote the bottom up economic model.

“I used to have a business selling smokie kachumbari while on campus at Daystar University. That was the profitable business then. My father encouraged me in that small business that I was doing,” she said.

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The video clip has received mixed reactions from netizens, with the majority not taking Charlene for her word.

Charlene Ruto completed at Daystar University in 2015 with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication. At that time, Ruto was serving as the Deputy President under the Jubilee Administration.

Charlene owns one stake in Matiny Limited, a company that was initially owned by her father. She and her mother Rachel Ruto also own a house in Woodley Estate that was valued at Sh. 20 million in 2019.

Word around is that she is gearing up to wear political boots and tread in her father’s footsteps. Charlene has been seen on numerous occasions visiting county assemblies, having meetings with governors and running different initiatives at the same time.

Kenyans On Twitter (KOT) nicknamed her Quickmart Ivanka. Quickmart because the supermarket is opening new branches every now and then at different parts of the country. Ivanka owed to Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump, who was appointed by his father to an official government role.

On November 10, Charlene, through her official Twitter account said she had met Morocco’s youth minister, Mohammed Mehdi, for a “conversation and exchange of ideas that will go a long way in shaping youth development projects for both nations”.

Charlene has also had a plenary session with Bomet county MCAs.