NAIROBI, Kenya – President William Ruto’s daughter, Charlene Ruto, has been captured on video questioning the heavy security presence at her wedding in Tanzania after officers appeared to prevent some people accompanying her from getting closer.
In the footage circulating online, Charlene is seen gesturing towards security officers as she attempts to explain that the people they were restricting were her photographers.
“These are our photographers, please,” she tells the officers.
President Ruto, who is walking nearby with First Lady Rachel Ruto, then turns towards his daughter and appears to signal that she should calm down.
“Ei wewe,” the President responds.
Charlene, however, continues expressing her displeasure with the security arrangements, telling her father: “Security are too much… they are too much.”
The brief exchange has attracted attention online, offering a glimpse into the lighter but tense moments surrounding a wedding that brought together some of Kenya and Tanzania’s most prominent political figures.
Strict security surrounded the Mwanza wedding
Charlene married Tanzanian entrepreneur Isaya Yunge on Friday, November 6, at Malaika Beach Hotel in Mwanza, overlooking Lake Victoria.
The ceremony attracted a high-profile guest list, including Rwanda’s First Lady Jeannette Kagame, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s widow Ida Odinga, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Cabinet Secretaries Kipchumba Murkomen and Aden Duale, and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga.
The scale of the guest list and the presence of senior political figures from both countries came with heightened security arrangements.
Tanzania’s Mwanza Regional Police Commander, DCP Wilbrod Mutafungwa, had earlier said police had intensified patrols around hotels, land-based locations and the shores of Lake Victoria to ensure the safety of guests attending the celebrations.
Couple had requested privacy during ceremony
The wedding organisers had also introduced restrictions on photography and video recording, asking guests to respect the couple’s privacy.
A notice at the venue requested that guests refrain from taking photographs or videos during the ceremony.
Despite the restrictions, footage and photographs from the celebrations have circulated on social media, including the clip showing Charlene’s exchange with her father.
The video has drawn attention not only because of the President’s response but also because it captures a personal moment between the Head of State and his daughter away from the usual political setting.
Charlene and Isaya’s wedding follows traditional ceremony
The Mwanza wedding followed the couple’s traditional Kalenjin engagement and dowry ceremony, known as Koito, held on August 8, 2026, at the Ruto family’s Intonna Heritage Farm in Kilgoris, Narok County.
The traditional event brought together relatives, friends and senior political leaders from Kenya and Tanzania.
The white wedding in Mwanza marked the next major chapter in the couple’s relationship, bringing together the two families in a cross-border celebration.
