Kenya’s First Lady, Mama Rachel Ruto, joined her counterparts from across Africa in Zanzibar for the launch of the We Are Equal campaign, a transformative initiative by the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD). The campaign aims to promote gender equality and drive change in key areas such as education, health, gender-based violence prevention, and women’s economic empowerment.
The launch event, hosted by Zanzibar’s First Lady, Mariam Mwinyi, combined advocacy with action, beginning with a morning walk and a medical camp organized by the Zanzibar Maisha Bora Foundation. The initiative underscored the role of First Ladies in championing social and economic transformation in their respective countries.
Mama Rachel Ruto commended Mariam Mwinyi for her commitment to uplifting women and children, highlighting the strong alignment between Zanzibar’s vision and Kenya’s efforts in social development. She emphasized that Kenya has chosen nutrition as the primary driver of its We Are Equal campaign.
“Kenya has selected nutrition as the vehicle for driving our campaign. We are working with public primary schools to achieve the country’s Universal School Feeding Goal of 10 million school meals by 2030,” she stated.
To achieve this ambitious goal, the Kenyan government is collaborating with various stakeholders, including non-governmental organizations and development partners. The strategy involves building the capacity of public primary schools to grow their own food, ensuring a sustainable approach to school feeding programs.
The We Are Equal campaign reflects a broader continental effort to empower women and children, recognizing that gender equality is key to Africa’s progress. By addressing issues such as malnutrition, education access, and economic empowerment, the initiative seeks to create long-term positive change across African communities.
Mama Rachel Ruto’s participation in the launch underscores Kenya’s commitment to advancing these goals, not just at the national level but in solidarity with other African nations. As First Ladies lead this campaign, their influence and advocacy are set to drive significant policy and community-level transformations, shaping a more equitable future for Africa.
