First Lady Mama Rachel Ruto has launched the survivor-and-mother-led My Dear Daughter campaign. The launch took place at Ole Sheda Grounds in Narok County, on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, during the national launch of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
The national launch serves as Kenya's kick-off for this critical international initiative, which runs annually from November 25th, which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, through December 10th, which marks Human Rights Day.
According to Rachel, My Dear Daughter Campaign is a survivor- and mother-led movement specifically aimed at ending female genital mutilation (FGM), preventing child marriages, and protecting girls' rights in communities where these practices persist, particularly among pastoralist groups like the Maasai.
“There are times when the pain of our daughters demands to be seen, not counted. There are moments in our nation's life when statistics become stories, when data becomes daughters,” Rachel Ruto stated
The first lady asserted that violence against women and girls is not merely a social problem but a grave violation of fundamental human rights.
She emphasized that FGM and child marriages are not cultural rites of passage but rather described them as theft of life. She praised the community elders for their efforts toward changing these cultural practices.
Racheal assured the people that the program was not meant to eradicate culture and called upon fathers to safeguard their daughters. She insisted that communities should focus on the future rather than defending acts of the past.
She assured that the program was not meant to eradicate culture and called upon fathers to safeguard their daughters. She insisted that communities should focus on the future rather than defending past actions. She also added that culture should be a crown, not a chain, for the girl child.
“Violence against women is a darkness that steals too many dreams, too many lives, and too much hope,” Kalonzo Musyoka stated, echoing her remarks.
Kalonzo emphasized the importance of creating a community that protects and encourages survivors to come forward and report cases of gender based violence.
Rachel acknowledged the cultural sensitivity of the matter but encouraged women to speak up and protect their daughters from harmful cultural practices that demean their dignity.
She commended the various stakeholders in the fight to end gender-based violence and affirmed the Kenya Kwanza's commitment to the cause.
