President William Ruto’s daughter, Charlene Ruto, on Saturday, August 8, 2026, marked a major milestone as her family hosted her traditional Koito engagement ceremony at Intonna Heritage Farm in Kilgoris, Narok County.
The colourful event brought together members of the Ruto family, political leaders and other high-profile guests for a ceremony steeped in Kalenjin culture and tradition.
High-Profile Guests Arrive in Kilgoris
Several prominent leaders were spotted making their way to the venue, with helicopters also reportedly arriving at Intonna Heritage Farm as guests joined the celebrations.
Among those seen at the ceremony were Cabinet Secretaries Aden Duale and Kipchumba Murkomen, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, nominated Senator Karen Nyamu, Lang’ata MP Phelix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang’o, Bomet Woman Representative Linet Toto and Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris.
Jalang’o shared a video capturing the leaders arriving at the venue in what appeared to be a coordinated dress code.
“Vile Tunaingia Kilgoris Kwa Harusi ya Charlene! Harusi tunayo!!” he captioned the video.
Principal Secretary for the State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy Fikirini Jacobs also celebrated the occasion, describing Charlene as a “Comrade” while congratulating her.
“Big day for a Comrade. Congratulations, my sister Charlene Ruto, on your Koito ak Chaik,” Jacobs wrote.
Charlene Showcases Traditional-Inspired Look
Charlene also gave her followers a glimpse into the celebrations through a video shared on her Instagram page, showcasing the outfit she selected for the important occasion.
She wore a long, elegant dress combining green fabric with an African print. The green material covered the upper section of the outfit, while the patterned fabric began around her waist and flowed to the floor, giving the look a distinctly African aesthetic.
The ceremony comes as Charlene prepares to formalise her union with Tanzanian technology entrepreneur Isaya Yunge.
Who Is Charlene’s Fiancé?
Yunge is a technology entrepreneur and digital innovation enthusiast with interests in entrepreneurship and technology.
He is the founder and CEO of Goodsam Technologies and co-founder of Smart Kaya LLC, a venture focused on developing smart-home technology for African households.
The Tanzanian entrepreneur has also received international recognition for his work. He was named among Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 and received the Queen’s Young Leaders Award in 2018 for his efforts in developing technology-driven solutions.
The couple largely kept their relationship away from the public spotlight before news of their engagement emerged.
What Is a Koito Ceremony?
Koito is a traditional engagement and dowry negotiation ceremony among the Kalenjin community.
The word is commonly associated with the process of “giving away” the bride and represents an important stage in bringing the two families together before marriage.
The ceremony traditionally involves the families of the bride and groom meeting to formalise their union, discuss dowry arrangements and celebrate the impending marriage.
Cultural performances, traditional attire, food and other customs form part of the celebrations, making Koito both a family milestone and an opportunity to preserve cultural heritage.
For Charlene, Saturday’s ceremony brought together her personal milestone, family traditions and a gathering of some of the country’s most recognisable political figures in Kilgoris.
