On Thursday, September 5, Mount Kigali University hosted Charlene Ruto, daughter of Kenya’s president, William Ruto, for a talk on women’s empowerment, where she offered valuable insights.

She emphasised the importance of women uplifting one another as the key to empowerment. Delivering an inspiring talk titled Empower Her Initiative to students at the university, she urged women to foster mutual support to drive meaningful change in their communities.

"If your friend has started a business, be their first customer. If your friend is looking for a job, be the first to refer them. If your friend needs help with their assignments, be the first to step in,” she said.

Ruto pointed out that female students can approach different women in their lives to mentor them. Mentors can be female lecturers, non-teaching university staff, mothers, or other women in society, she said.

She gave the example of her mother, First Lady Rachel Ruto who inspired a group of women to start saving through table banking. "Now the children of these women are involved in this activity,” she said, adding that this exemplified the power of mentorship.

She called on men to empower young women, emphasising the equal importance of men in driving community advancement.

"At some point, women will marry and will need men with strong values. Some will raise sons. That’s why we must make it a collective goal to empower both genders equally if we want to build a thriving, functioning society,” she said.

The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Dr Martin Kimemia, praised Ms. Ruto, the founding patron of the Smart Mechanized Agriculture and Climate Action for Humanity and Sustainability (SMACHS) Foundation, for her outstanding efforts in empowering young people. He noted that she had supported young people, particularly in agribusiness, climate action, and sustainable development.

He commended her dedication to youth empowerment, women’s leadership, and community development.

"We can all take inspiration from her work and strive to make our world a better place to live in,” Kimemia remarked.

The VC also commended the university’s female students for their drive to fully leverage the supportive environment provided to help them reach their potential.

"Our female students are increasingly recognising their potential, particularly in leadership roles. For example, in the past two years, we’ve had the honour of successively electing two female guild presidents. Both won their elections fairly and on merit,” he noted, emphasising the progress made in promoting gender equality through genuine student leadership.

Mount Kigali University DVC in charge of quality management and Institutional compliance, Dr Nkechi Irechukwu, highlighted the growing significance of women in leadership roles, moving beyond traditional stereotypes.

She asserted that empowerment allows women to "gain control over their lives and make strategic choices.” They are able to focus on aspects like self-worth, access to opportunities, and the power to influence social change.

Irechukwu called for education, training, and other resources as vital tools to break down gender inequality, adding, "Empowering women is essential for sustainable development.”

She urged women to "empower yourself first,” stressing, self-belief and resilience, even in the absence of external support.

The DVC in charge of academic and research affairs, Dr Nelly Wamaitha, decried the impact of cultural practices on the empowerment of women and insisted that people can learn from them to improve communities.

She noted that, whereas many traditional customs in East African communities were often harsh on women, they arose from a need to maintain social cohesion in transitioning societies.

"Elders likely didn’t intend to harm women; these customs were necessary for stability at the time,” she explained.

Dr Wamaitha suggested that some traditional practices can be re-examined and updated to better fit contemporary needs. "In the past, women played key roles in organising ceremonies and working together in agriculture. Reviving this sense of community and co-operation could empower women today through initiatives like co-operatives or collective business ventures,” she explained.

She further highlighted how modern advancements, such as smart farming, could enable women to lead in sectors where they’ve historically contributed.

"By modernising these traditions, we not only promote women’s empowerment but also foster economic and social development in the region. Traditions that once restricted women’s advancement can now become tools for progress and equality,” she added.

During her tour of the university, Ruto said she was impressed by the state-of-the-art infrastructure. She visited the newly renovated Royal FM, the University Medical Centre, and the Kigali Paramount Hotel, among other educational facilities.

The SMACH patron was in Kigali to attend the Africa Food System Forum 2024.

She wrote on her X-account, "I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be speaking at The Africa Food Systems Forum 2024, taking place in Kigali, Rwanda, from September 2nd to 6th. I’ll be addressing the crucial topic of Africa’s Youth Position on Food Systems, Policy, and Climate Change, highlighting the role of young people in shaping sustainable solutions and influencing policy decisions that impact our future.”

She added: "This forum is a unique opportunity to contribute to the dialogue on how we can secure a resilient and equitable food system for Africa. Looking forward to engaging with fellow advocates and visionaries as we work towards a better future for our continent!”