First Lady Rachel Ruto has reaffirmed her commitment to advancing education and improving children’s welfare, emphasizing that strong partnerships are key to addressing challenges facing learners across the country.
Speaking at Farasi Lane School in Nairobi during the handover of a school bus she pledged last year, Mrs Ruto said the donation goes beyond transport, describing it as an investment in safety, dignity, and opportunity for learners.
The bus fulfils a promise she made during a UN-Habitat event held at the school on May 30, 2025, where she engaged pupils, teachers, and parents, and committed to supporting the institution’s transport needs.
“Today, we gather here to receive our horse. This bus will be the horse at Farasi Lane,” she said in a light-hearted address to learners. “Not one with four legs, but one with wheels… ready to carry you forward, safely and on time.”
Mrs Ruto noted that reliable school transport eases the burden on parents while ensuring children access education safely and consistently.
“This is an investment in the future of our children,” she said, urging the school community to safeguard the bus as a shared asset for present and future learners.
She also linked the initiative to the government’s broader education agenda, noting that President William Ruto’s administration remains committed to strengthening foundational learning through the Competency-Based Curriculum, investing in school infrastructure, and improving access and retention.
The First Lady said her office will continue supporting initiatives that uplift children and strengthen education outcomes through collaboration with partners.
The event also underscored growing partnerships around child welfare and urban development.
Principal Secretary for Children Services Carren Agengo commended the First Lady’s initiatives, noting that they are contributing to improved learner well-being, retention, and transition rates.
Nairobi Deputy Governor James Muchiri highlighted collaboration between the national and county governments in urban transformation, citing projects such as the Nairobi River restoration and the affordable housing programme.
Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Nairobi Susan Nakhumicha said UN-Habitat is ready to partner with the First Lady on environmental initiatives, including planting fruit trees along the rehabilitated Nairobi River corridor.
Westlands MP Timothy Wanyonyi welcomed the donation, saying the new bus will improve pupil safety and welfare.
The handover highlighted ongoing efforts by the First Lady to support education and child-centred initiatives, with the bus expected to ease daily transport challenges and expand access to learning and school activities for pupils at Farasi Lane School.
