My first trip to Nairobi was in 1988 when I joined the university after high school in rural Nandi. Having grown up in the village, my knowledge of the city was solely based on what I had heard from other people.
While fellow high school students chose the nearby Moi University, I opted for a college in Nairobi to escape rural life. Luckily, I landed at Kenyatta University. Thankfully, my father accompanied me on my first trip to the city. We arrived in Nairobi at night after a long journey, and I immediately felt at home. We boarded bus number 45 to take us all the way to Kenyatta University. Sitting in traffic almost on a daily basis, what initially caught my attention was women drivers. I couldn't believe this was a possibility, especially seeing that some of them drove sleek and fancy cars just like the men.
When I finally graduated and was posted to a local school, I decided instead to stay in Nairobi. God has been really great ever since. Rachel Ruto is wife of President elect, William Ruto, and founder of Joyful Women Organisation (JOYWO).