‘I Was Giving Up’: Charlene Ruto’s Emotional Confession During Her Wedding

According to a report by K24 Digital on Friday, November 6, 2026, Charlene Ruto has opened up about the emotional journey that led to her marriage to Tanzanian entrepreneur Isaya Yunge.

Speaking during their white wedding in Mwanza, Tanzania, the daughter of President William Ruto revealed that she had prayed for her future husband for 16 years before finally meeting him.

Charlene said her journey began when she was in her first year of high school. At the time, she had no idea who the man she would eventually marry was.

She explained that her prayers were inspired by Matthew 17:20, a Bible verse that speaks about faith as small as a mustard seed.

What she initially thought would be a short waiting period eventually became a long journey involving prayer, fasting and patience.

However, Charlene admitted that there was a point when she nearly abandoned the journey because she had waited for so long without knowing when her prayers would be answered.

“It reached a point I was giving up. I had prayed, I had waited, my impatience was growing,” she recalled during her wedding vows.

She credited her mother, First Lady Rachel Ruto, for continuing to pray for her even when her own faith was weakening.

Charlene also revealed that she had received private prophecies concerning her future husband. She recalled that renowned preacher Pastor Benny Hinn had also prayed for Isaya to come into her life quickly.

During what she described as her faithless hour, Charlene decided to write down a list of qualities she wanted in her future husband.

She prayed over the list, believing she had clearly outlined everything she hoped to find in a life partner.

However, addressing Isaya during their wedding vows, she said her husband had exceeded the expectations she had written down.

“In every sentence I wrote, I put a full stop. But God put a comma. When I finished at number 15, he continued to number 16, 17 and beyond,” she said.

She concluded by telling her husband that he was more than she had ever requested, imagined or dreamed of.

The couple celebrated their white wedding in Mwanza on November 6, 2026, following their traditional Kalenjin Koito ceremony held in Kilgoris, Narok County, on August 8.

Their wedding brought together family members, friends and prominent guests from Kenya and Tanzania as they began their married life together.

KENYANREPORTER feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com