First Lady Rachel Ruto was on Saturday, September 30, feted with the KISS Humanitarian Award 2022 in India.
The awards, organized by the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) are held every year to recognize individuals from across the globe who stand out for their efforts to make a difference in the lives of less privileged people.
In a statement, the First Lady welcomed the Award noting that it was a culmination of dedication towards uplifting the underprivileged people in Kenya.
Further, MS Ruto acknowledged that the award represented the hard work from Kenyans in a bid to make lives better.
“I am incredibly honored to receive the prestigious KISS Humanitarian Award for 2022,” she stated.
“This honor is a tribute to the resilience and spirit of the Kenyan people, especially our remarkable women.”
In addition, the First Lady vowed to remain committed towards improving the lives of the underprivileged in Kenya.
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She urged more players to join in the initiatives aimed at impacting change among the vulnerable including children and women.
The award has in the past attracted global attention owing to the high profiles of awardees.
Among the notable recipients of the award in the past years include Gianni Infantino, the President of the world’s football governing body- Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).
Other notable recipients include former Mauritius President Anerood Jugnauth, Former President of Peru, Ms. Ashley Judd, and two Nobel laureates.
Rachel Ruto’s Efforts in Women Empowerment
For years now, the First Lady has taken part in initiatives aimed at empowering women financially.
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In a past interview, MS Ruto narrated how experiences from vulnerable women prompted her to form the Joyful Women Organization (JOYWO) which helps women in saving and accessing capital for various economic activities.
JOYWO is a group with over 160,000 members from various backgrounds giving women an opportunity to save from as low as Ksh200 and access loans.
According to her, an encounter with a bare-footed woman in the Rift Valley inspired her to come up with the concept in her determination to uplift vulnerable women in the society.
The group has since become renowned for its transformation record, helping women to own income-generating projects.