Margaret_Gakuo_Kenyatta
Margaret Kenyatta
Former First Lady of Kenya (2013–2022)
Margaret Gakuo Kenyatta (born 8 April 1964) is a Kenyan educator who served as First Lady of Kenya from 2013 to 2022. She is the wife of Uhuru Kenyatta, the immediate former Kenyan president.
Margaret Kenyatta | |
|---|---|
Kenyatta in August 2018 | |
| First Lady of Kenya | |
| In role 9 April 2013 – 13 September 2022 | |
| President | Uhuru Kenyatta |
| Preceded by | Lucy Kibaki |
| Succeeded by | Rachel Ruto |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Margaret Wanjiru Gakuo (1964-04-08) 8 April 1964 (age 60) |
| Nationality | Kenyan |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
Margaret Wanjiru Gakuo was born on 8 April 1964 to a Kenyan father, Njuguna Gakuo, a former director of the Kenya Railways Corporation, and a German mother, Magdalena.[1] She attended Kianda School, St. Andrews School in Molo, Kenya, and received a Bachelor of Education from Kenyatta University.[1]
Social activism
Kenyatta has voiced her opinion on a number of social issues in Kenya ranging from mother and child wellness,[2][3] including a mother-baby hospital unit named after her.[2] Kenyatta has encouraged patients to fight cancer through early screening for breast, cervical and prostate cancer[4] and tackling diabetes by encouraging a healthy lifestyle. Kenyatta is also a big supporter of numerous educational and charity programs in Kenya, taking part in the opening of WE Charity College in Narok County,[5] and promoting the conservation of historic sites and monuments.[6]
Public opinion of her in Kenya tends to focus positively on the simplicity of her fashion and temperament, and negatively on her perceived timidity.[citation needed] Since the inauguration, Kenyatta has headed up a campaign, dubbed the Beyond Zero Campaign,[7] to reduce child maternal mortality rates. On 24 October 2014, she was named Kenya Person of the Year.[8] She is Catholic and serves as an alumna of the Catholic girls' school, Kianda School.[9]
- Muriuki, Benjamin (2017-05-22). "Margaret Kenyatta, Ida Odinga and Rachel Ruto Are Teachers by Profession". Kenyans.co.ke. Retrieved 2019-10-14.
- Kahenda, Mercy. "Margret Kenyatta Mother baby unit to boost maternal health in Nakuru and environs". The Standard. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
- "Kenya to take UHC lessons from Barbados, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta says". Capital News. 2019-08-09. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
- "Margaret Kenyatta calls for lifestyle change to combat disease". hivisasa.com. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
- Kiplagat, Robert. "First Lady roots for education in eradicating poverty". The Standard. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
- Kamunde, Muraya (2019-08-10). "First Lady calls for cooperation in conservation of archaeological sites". KBC | Kenya's Watching. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
- "Unveiling UHURU MUIGAI KENYATTA's wife.. Mama MARGARET WANJIRU KENYATTA". Daily Post (Kenya). March 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
- "Margaret Kenyatta is the 2014 UN in Kenya Person of the Year - Daily Nation". www.nation.co.ke. Retrieved 2019-03-08.
