President Ruto's mother covers journalist with Shuka over short dress

President William Ruto's mother Sarah Samoei (in white), receives a title deed from Uasin Gishu County Governor Jonathan Bii in Eldoret on June 22, 2023. [Peter Ochieng, Standard]

Sarah Cherono, President William Ruto's mother, offered to wrap up a female journalist in an event with a Maasai shuka to cover up her 'indecent dressing'.

The drama unfolded on Thursday, June 22 at an event where Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii was issuing title deeds to over 500 residents in the county.

Mama Sarah, after leaving her seat to cover the female camera person, took to the podium to narrate to the audience what prompted her actions.

"When I got here, I saw my younger child...her clothes were very short. Then I asked myself, what if that camera falls, how would she be able to pick it up? I said I have to bless her by covering her up," she said in Kalenjin as Governor Bii translated in Kiswahili.

She said she blessed the lady with the shuka as an act of love pleading with her not to be angry over her actions.

She went ahead to educate women on the importance of always carrying the shuka along and urged them to keep the culture going.

"We were taught long ago that a woman should not go anywhere without a shuka. I believe you were all taught you might meet an expectant woman on the road about to deliver and you don't have anything to cover her with," she said.

"I ask mothers not to forget the tradition of walking with Shuka, today you have seen how important it is."

The journalist in question left the event and later joined in a decent suit.

At the event, mama Sarah was among the landowners who received their title deeds issued by the county government.

"Land is an asset I call on all Kenyans to use their lands properly for themselves and the future generations," she said.