Dancing rhythmically to catchy tunes and fast-paced harmonies of Ohangla music during the International Women’s Day celebrations in Homa Bay Town over the weekend represented a somewhat dramatic transformation of Kenya’s First Lady, Rachel Ruto.
The 56-year-old is soft-spoken, more often than not, shying away from public glamour.
However, the image of the First Lady the country saw in Homa Bay Town was a testament to how fluid and the ever-changing political landscape is in the country where political relationships are mostly dictated by political affiliations of the day.
Sandwiched between area Governor Gladys Wanga and ODM leader Raila Odinga’s wife Ida Odinga , Ms Ruto easily danced to the infectious beats of one of Onyi Papa Jey’s, celebrated Luo Ohangla crooner, hit songs as the crowd gave the new-found political friends a push to the Tom Mboya University Grounds.
From left, Gender Principal Secretary Anne Wang'ombe, First Lady Rachael Ruto, Ida Odinga, UN Women Country Representative Antonia Sodonon and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga launch the Beijing + 30 Kenya country report during International Women's Day at Tom Mboya University in Homa Bay Town on March 8, 2025.
Photo credit: George Odiwuor | Nation Media Group
Ms Ruto hobnobbing with the Lakeside’s most popular female leader, Mama Ida is born out of the nascent political bromance growing between President William Ruto and Mr Odinga.
Nevertheless, the wife of Kenya’s first-in-command has seen her political friends change in the past years since being thrust into the zenith of Kenya’s leadership when her husband became a deputy president in 2013.
But her relationships have borne the brunt of shifting political alliances with every political swing dictating who she relates with.
From Margaret Kenyatta to Pastor Dorcas Rigathi and now Mama Ida, Ms Ruto’s political relationships have been dictated by who her husband works with politically.
In Homa Bay, the First Lady and Mama Ida even wore unique kitenge prints as they smiled from ear to ear during the event, a first public appearance for the powerful women leaders coming after their husbands signed a working pact between their parties.
This is a stark difference to the sentiments shared by Mama Ida in the lead-up to the hotly contested 2022 elections.
She admitted that the bitter political fight between Dr Ruto and the former prime minister could create tense moments for Ms Ruto and her.
Mama Ida hinted at a strained relationship with Ms Ruto due to political reasons with their husbands on different sides of the political front.
“We are friends, although we don’t meet often. The spouse may not allow her to engage me for obvious political reasons. He may not like it,” said Mama Ida in November 2021.
“With Margaret (Kenyatta), we are easy, but for Rachel, I know with the current political situation, she may not be comfortable, but what Kenyans should know is that politics is not enmity,” she added.
First Lady Rachel Ruto and Ms Ida Odinga during the International Women's Day at Tom Mboya University in Homa Bay Town on March 8, 2025.
Photo credit: George Odiwuor | Nation Media Group
As Ms Odinga used to “consult frequently” with Ms Kenyatta when their husbands were on the same side of the political coin, the country will continue being treated to more public appearances graced by the two women as the political relationship between their husbands’ blossom.
For at least six years between 2013 and 2018, Ms Ruto was bosom friends with Kenya’s fourth First Lady Ms Kenyatta.
As their husbands wore matching suits and ties, frequently holding hands as their political camaraderie grew in leaps and bounds, the bond between the two also took the same trajectory.
They would attend State functions together, carry out government initiatives together and frequented State functions and celebrations in toe, only separated by protocol-dictated distance.
Photos of the two walking shoulder to shoulder in public would be a frequent staple over the first term of Mr Kenyatta’s presidency.
But the relationship soured after a fallout between Mr Kenyatta and his deputy following a 'handshake' between the former President and Mr Odinga in 2018.
The joint public appearances would thin in the same manner as the relationship between their husbands after Mr Kenyatta further muddied the political waters by snubbing Dr Ruto to throw his weight behind Mr Odinga ahead of the August 2022 elections.
The last public appearance with the two together was on September 12, 2022, when Ms Kenyatta gave her successor a tour of State House.
This as the outgoing first couple hosted their successors as part of the transition process as they toured the House on the Hill, which is the official residence of the First Family.
The relationship shifted to Pastor Dorcas as Dr Ruto teamed up with Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua to take on Mr Odinga.
The two staunch Christians would replicate the former public display of friendship, attending prayer meetings here and State functions there.
First Lady Rachael Ruto and Ida Odinga during the International Women's Day at Tom Mboya University in Homa Bay Town on March 8, 2025.
Photo credit: George Odiwuor | Nation Media Group
However, the relationship did not last long, with cracks starting to appear as the political bromance between President Ruto and Mr Gachagua became strained.
The last nail in the coffin came last year when the fallout became ugly with the impeachment of Mr Gachagua, putting an end to his stint as Kenya’s second-in-command.
