Rachel Ruto assumed the office of the First Lady, in September 2022 after a 10-year stint as a Second Lady.
The president’s wife, officially known as the first lady of the country – holds a peculiar role in national politics. She is not an elected leader and has no official duties, but whoever is in the role never fails to command the public’s attention.
These women are thrust into the spotlight not by choice, but simply because of their husbands’ ambitions. They are then expected to represent the country at home and abroad.
Dolley Madison, wife of James Madison, the fourth president of the United States of America – had a tremendous impact on her husband’s administration, not just because he valued her political acumen – but also because she worked to create a public image as a fashionable woman and a consummate White House host. She dressed extravagantly for some events but knew when to scale it back so as not to overshadow her husband.
She was known for wearing turbans with empire-cut gowns from Paris. Her reputation for being stylish set the standard for what a first lady of the then young new country, the USA, should be and how her fashion and image related to her husband’s presidency.
Photoshop reconstruction of the 1825 life mask of 4th U.S. President James Madison and Daguerreotype of Dolley Payne Todd Madison. /JOHN HENRI BROWERE
By wearing dresses that were reminiscent of the Greek Republic, she was reminding people of the ideals America represented. This use of clothing as symbolism would inform the first ladies to come, including modern-day global style and fashion icon, Michelle Obama.
Rachel Ruto assumed the office of the First Lady, in September 2022 after a 10-year stint as a Second Lady.
Since way back, Mrs Ruto has portrayed herself as a prayerful woman – and whenever the country was going through a major problem, she would take the initiative of leading prayers. A point in time is when she led National Prayers to cleanse the Salgaa black spot along the Nakuru-Eldoret highway in 2017.
In 2019, she made a major amendment to the Official Deputy President’s residence in Karen by launching the National Prayer Altar where the family has been conducting church services and even invited friends and acquaintances to worship with them. According to the First Lady, it is her prayers that were pivotal in securing her husband’s presidency.
The First Lady, in her own right, is a public figure who is celebrated by the masses as the woman behind the wheel, she wields considerable influence and garners widespread interest in her clothing, appearance, and actions.
Her contributions to her husband’s political journey, whether through prayer or other means, are often acknowledged and appreciated by the masses. However, it is essential to recognize that her role extends far beyond the confines of her husband’s political success.
Fashion can be a powerful tool for someone in the public eye to communicate and relate to a broad audience, and when successful, a first lady can use her interest in her clothes to her advantage.
She has shaped perceptions, inspired change, and championed causes close to her heart. The trained teacher has been involved in activities to uplift the lives of women in Kenya.
She is an active player in the Inua Mama initiative and also the Joyful Women Organization (JOYWO). According to the First Lady, the motivation to help support women through such initiatives was inspired by an incident in 1997, when she met a woman who was the age of her mother without shoes. Rachel aimed to break the barrier of women having financial freedom.
“I started having a dream of going to the rural areas and talking to women, and telling them it is possible,” she’s been quoted saying.
And it is also very possible to be fashionable while serving as the nation’s ‘Mom-in-Chief’. She has been the subject of numerous wardrobe choices that have sparked discussions. The most recent one being during King Charles III’s visit to Kenya earlier this year.
Known for her signature short hair, the president’s wife left tongues wagging by rocking a stylish blue kitenge skirt suit, clutch bag, and low-heeled shoes. The beautiful mother accessorized her look with a stylish watch, a silver necklace, and earrings. Her wedding ring was intact.
Her diehard supporters always come out guns blazing in her defence alluding to the difficulty the first lady grapples with in mitigating expectations about her wardrobe on top of other duties, but fashion is also an important way for the first lady to connect with people.
Far from being a frivolous pursuit, fashion serves as a potent means of communication, enabling individuals to connect with diverse audiences fast. It can effectively convey confidence, empathy, and cultural resonance.
A stylish first lady can not only be a fashion icon, she can project an image of a fairly stable, prosperous, liberal, and modern fashion-forward Kenya. Her fashion choices can inspire her people, and be seen as a reflection of the country’s cultural identity and its position in the global fashion scene.
Being both stylish and accomplished portrays how fashion taste and intellectual capability or political influence can go hand-in-hand. And just like the global icon, Michelle Obama, wearing clothing by local designers brings significant attention and business to a nation’s fashion industry. This leads to job creation thus bolstering the economy.
Former United States (US) First Lady, Michelle Obama in a purple silk suit from Sergio Hudson and sequined bustier by Christy Rilling Studio at a speaking engagement about her book Becoming in Atlanta. May 11, 2019. /GETTY IMAGES
As such, dear First Lady, your fashion choices are not merely matters of personal preference but bear significance in the broader narrative of national identity and representation. Your image can be a powerful tool for public connection.
Have you considered collaborating with a stylist to elevate your public image while maintaining your personal style? To dismiss such considerations as trivial or inconsequential is to overlook the potential for fashion to serve as a conduit for meaningful dialogue and engagement.
Yes. And whether thought to be warranted or not, the public will always inevitably focus on what you are wearing.
Ooro George is a Kenyan journalist, art critic, digital stories, and cross-cultural curator. You can reach him via LinkedIn here, through email: [email protected] and on X @OoroGeorge