The daughters of Kenya's main political rivals, ODM Party Leader Raila Amollo Odinga and President William Ruto on Friday, March 10, shared a platform to champion Women's Rights.
Charlene Ruto, the daughter of the Head of State, and Winnie Odinga, Raila's last born, attended the Kenya Model United Nations 22nd Forum where they addressed issues affecting women across different generations.
The two prominent women called on the government to prioritise political and technological structures aimed at uplifting the vulnerable in society.
"Please do not take it for granted that you can reflect on issues affecting the globe today. Start proposing solutions and acting today.
"The future is present action based on past lessons. When we think about what we want tomorrow, we must reflect today on what we had yesterday," Charleen Ruto explained.
Charlene asked those charged with various responsibilities pertaining to women's affairs to embrace new thinking patterns that would yield solutions for the common challenges.
"We are at the intersection where past talk, ideas and planning must shift to higher ambition, bold action and change.
"We are at the point where the voice of the youth can accelerate creativity and innovation to meet the growing needs of our population," Charlene urged.
On her part, Winnie stated that women have been a target for many criminals who prey on unprotected persons on the internet.
"Anybody can say anything about anybody, and just because it's on the Internet, it becomes a fact. Reputations are then ruined, lives are ruined and that is why we are seeing high cases of suicide," Winnie noted.
Winnie who addressed journalists after the main event stated that digital technologies had been weaponised against women.
"We need to create safe spaces for our people to meet online, interact and share things safely," Winnie noted.
The two public figures have hardly been seen together despite their political and activism engagements in and out of the country.
Winnie is a Member of Parliament at the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) while Charlene runs her empowerment programmes.
"I offer myself to be the champion of millions of our young people, echoing their voices of concern and leading in the front to help them reach their full potential.
"From menstrual hygiene of our girls and women, anti-FGM advocacy and dignity of girls especially in marginalized communities, opportunities for youth in agribusiness, education and using our youthful energies to lead from the front in the world biggest war against the ravages of climate change," Charlene wrote on her website.
