President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto have arrived in Mwanza, Tanzania, ahead of their daughter Charlene Ruto’s white wedding to Tanzanian entrepreneur Isaya Yunge.
The couple are expected to exchange vows today, on Friday, November 6, 2026, at the luxurious Malaika Beach Resort in Mwanza, Yunge’s hometown.
The high-profile ceremony marks another milestone in their relationship, which has attracted attention in Kenya and Tanzania following their traditional engagement ceremony in August.
Charlene and Isaya offered glimpses of their wedding preparations through a series of coordinated photoshoots before revealing the wedding date and location through social media posts showing their specially branded wedding arrangements.
The couple’s wedding branding appeared on customised headrest covers inside a private aircraft arranged to transport family members and guests to Tanzania.
The covers featured their names, a monogram bearing their initials, the date November 6, 2026, and Mwanza, Tanzania, confirming details of the ceremony.
Their wedding photographer, Kaplong, also shared a cinematic pre-wedding photoshoot featuring the couple in three coordinated looks.
The first look featured Charlene in a flowing black gown while Isaya wore a matching black suit. They later changed into burgundy outfits before appearing in emerald-green traditional-inspired attire decorated with gold embroidery.
The photographs captured the couple sharing affectionate moments, walking hand in hand and posing together as they prepared for their wedding.
The final look drew particular attention, with Charlene wearing an elaborate green gown with gold detailing and a flowing train, while Isaya complemented her in a matching embroidered outfit.
The photoshoot offered a glimpse into the couple’s wedding style just hours before their ceremony.
Charlene Ruto Holds Two Bridal Celebrations
Before travelling to Tanzania, Charlene marked the final days before her wedding through two separate gatherings with women who have played important roles in her life.
The first celebration was shared on Tuesday, November 3, when she hosted a bridal shower attended by her younger friends, sisters and close female companions.
The gathering adopted a white-and-purple theme, with Charlene wearing a white outfit, a tiara, a veil and a bride-to-be sash. Her guests, including her younger sister Stephanie Jepchumba, embraced pink outfits.
The celebration featured music, dancing, decorations and specially designed cakes bearing messages such as “Miss Babe to Mrs Babe” and “Hey Mrs Yunge”.
Charlene shared photographs from the occasion on Instagram, thanking the women who had supported her throughout different stages of her life.
“Grateful that the amazing women I have done life with over the years chose to celebrate me in my new season,” she wrote.
She also reflected on the importance of faith and friendship as she prepared to begin married life.
“Christ as our solid foundation and rock, the Word to guide my next step, the laughter and joy of sisterhood and knowing I have their love and support as I start to do life with the one He kept for me,” she added.
Charlene concluded by thanking the women who organised the gathering, affectionately referring to them as “my dadas, my girls!”
The second gathering was shared on Wednesday, November 4, and brought together older women in her family and social circle.
First Lady Rachel Ruto hosted the occasion, which Charlene described as “The Mother’s Blessing”.
Unlike the earlier bridal shower, which focused on friendship and celebration among younger women, the second gathering centred on prayer, family guidance and blessings ahead of marriage.
It brought together Rachel, Charlene’s aunties, traditional Senges and her mother’s close friends.
The women prayed for Charlene’s future marriage, offered advice on building a family and presented her with gifts as they celebrated her transition into married life.
Charlene described the gathering in an Instagram post as:
“A beautiful gathering where my mother, aunties, Senges and mother’s friends blessed my future marriage, prayed for me, loved on me, gifted me and guided me on how to invest in my life and family.”
She also paid tribute to her mother, thanking her for the support she had received throughout her life.
“Thank you, Mama, for being my prayer warrior and biggest cheerleader all my life,” she added.
Ruto Family Arrives in Tanzania
Following the celebrations in Nairobi, Charlene travelled to Mwanza on Wednesday, November 4, where she received a colourful welcome featuring traditional dancers, drummers and a convoy of luxury vehicles.
President Ruto and the First Lady later travelled to Tanzania for the wedding, accompanied by members of their family and other Kenyan guests.
First Son Nick Ruto and Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi were also among those whose arrival attracted attention on social media.
The Mwanza wedding follows the couple’s traditional Kalenjin engagement ceremony, known as Koito ak Chaik, held on August 8, 2026, at the Ruto family’s Intonna Heritage Farm in Kilgoris, Narok County.
The ceremony brought together relatives and prominent guests from Kenya and Tanzania as the two families formally celebrated the union.
Koito is an important Kalenjin marriage tradition through which the groom’s family approaches the bride’s family to formalise the relationship and discuss customary marriage arrangements.
The wedding in Mwanza brings together the couple’s Kenyan and Tanzanian backgrounds, with the celebrations moving to the groom’s hometown following the traditional ceremony in Kilgoris.
