Charlene Ruto, the daughter of William Ruto, shared how she used to sell ‘Smokie kachumbari‘ while she was studying at Daystar university in order to support herself.
In a video that was shared on social media without a specific date, Charlene said that the only things sold at that time were smokies.
In addition, she revealed that her father, William Ruto was the Deputy President at the time, encouraged her to start the business.
“I used to have a business selling smokie Kachumbari while on campus at Daystar University, that was the profitable business then, my father encouraged me in that small business I was doing,” Charlene Ruto recalled.
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Charlene Ruto was a student at Daystar University, where she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication in 2015.
During that particular moment, William Ruto was the Deputy President in their first tenure with the retired President, Uhuru Kenyatta.
Charlene Ruto also noted that there were witnesses from Daystar University who saw her selling smokies and kachumbari, even though she has no pictures from the time.
“Kuna witnesses. Ni ukweli. Ni vile tu sina picha kutoka hiyo time (There are witnesses. It is true. It’s just that I don’t have photos from then).”
The video received mixed reactions among Kenyans including those who she was addressing.
Soon after the first daughter’s snack-selling memes went viral, many Kenyans expressed shock that the daughter of a billionaire could manage such a tiny business.
According to a local news outlet,, Daystar University, alumna vehemently supported Charlene Ruto, who faced intense backlash from online users when she claimed to have sold smokies on campus, a claim that was strongly disputed by student leaders.
Kenyans on Twitter expressed alarm on November 27, 2022, about her visits to several county legislatures, talks with governors, and simultaneous administration of multiple schemes.
People on the internet began equating her with Ivanka Trump, the daughter of former US President Donald Trump.
Ivanka went with her father as an unofficial advisor when he was elected to office.
Ivanka was later given an official position in the government by Trump.
