How Last-Minute Meeting With Ruto Helped Woman Raise Ksh 16.7M in US

President William Ruto interacting with Kenyans in the US on December 2022
President William Ruto interacting with Kenyans in the US on December 2022
PCS

Veronicah Richards from the US had the rare opportunity to meet with President William Ruto and advance her philanthropic cause during the latter's tour in the United States.

Richards, at the time, was looking for help to create awareness of domestic violence affecting women and children in Kenya.

President Ruto had embarked on a Townhall meeting with Kenyans living in the US when Richards learnt from her passport attendant that the talk would take place at a hall nearby.

She rushed to the venue and when her chance to address the Head of State came, she laid out her ambitious plan to set up a safe house for GBV victims in Kenya through her Imani Rescue Center.

Terry and Veronicah Richards of Imani Rescue Center
Terry and Veronicah Richards of Imani Rescue Center
Photo
Imani Rescue Center

"Mr. President, thank you for the opportunity. I am here to speak up for women, especially women going through domestic violence. They have no way to even call for help. No emergency number; nothing. Please consider us," she told the Head of State.

In return, Ruto promised to help her in the quest. He, therefore, linked her to a Kenyan Cabinet Secretary who would help her set up the center.

"We have been in communication and in March, we had a meeting in New York City. We now have full support from the office of the President of Kenya and his government," she stated.

Richards embarked on a drive to raise funds for the project and has since raised Ksh16.7 million (USD120,000) out of her goal of Ksh22 million to help women in Kenya.

On Saturday, June 3, Richards noted that her meeting with the Head of State changed the trajectory of her venture, Imani Rescue Center.

According to her, she went to renew her passport in December 2022 in Washington DC when she heard that Ruto was interacting with Kenyans in the US.

"We were in Washington D.C. to renew my Kenyan passport and found out at the last minute that the Kenyan President William Ruto was speaking to Kenyans living in the US, about a mile away," she narrated.

The 39-year-old recalled growing up in a neighbourhood where gender violence was a norm. She argued that the lack of a working emergency number increased the cases.

She narrated an incident when a woman almost died after being beaten up, an incident that invoked the need to help others in similar situations.

"Now I have a way to help. I will wake up knowing that I will make a difference in the community in desperate need," she remarked.

Richards under the Imani Rescue Center will establish the first women's shelter in Kimana in Kajiado County. She will set it up in the centre in a container.

President William Ruto gives a speech at the Kenya National Drama Festival State Concert at State House, Nairobi, on June 2, 2023.
President William Ruto gives a speech at the Kenya National Drama Festival State Concert at State House, Nairobi, on June 2, 2023.
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