President William Ruto on Sunday hosted Tiktoker Mama Tinsley and her four-year-old daughter at State House in line with his earlier promise to the family.
The duo was accompanied by Tinsley Nduta's father George Ngugi and sister Maureen Wambeti during the high-profile visit.
The engagement was in line with President William Ruto's promise to the family during an 8-minute phone call on Sunday, May 12.
During the visit, the duo discussed school reopening and the benefits of attending school.
"Hosted four-year-old Tinsley Nduta, a pupil at Lizzie Wanyoike Preparatory School who became a social media sensation after expressing her reluctance about school reopening. She had a change of heart following a persuasive phone conversation I had with her last week," shared the Head of State before later jetting out to the US for a State Visit.
"Accompanied by her mother Agnes Wairimu, father George Ngugi and sister Maureen Wambeti to State House, Nairobi, I emphasised the critical role of education in shaping young minds and preparing them for productive roles in society."
A video clip of Tinsley crying shortly after Ruto announced the school reopening date had gone viral on social media prompting the Head of State to call the family and explain to the four-year-old the importance of education.
In the subsequent phone call, which Mama Tinsley shared on her Tiktok account and reached 2.6 million people, the President lifted Nduta's spirits.
"I have been looking for you because I saw your daughter complain about school reopening. I thought it wise to look for her and try to explain the reason for returning to school. She had heard that school reopening was suspended until further notice and was shocked when we revealed the date," Ruto stated.
Turning to the daughter, the President reiterated that school was important for all individuals looking to achieve their goals in the future.
"When I saw that you asked why Ruto has said that you should go back to school, I decided to call you so that I explain why you have to go to school," Ruto told Tinsley on the phone.
"You have to go to school because it is important that every child in Kenya, the law says, must go to school. Every parent must take their children to school because it is the only way we can impart knowledge, you can learn new things and subjects that can help you in the future. Your mother and just like me we have gone to school so that we can do the things that we are doing."
