H.E. Mrs. Rachel Ruto E.G.H., First Lady of the Republic of Kenya and Ambassador of Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother”, has reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening healthcare and empowering young women through education during the 7th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Summit 2025.
The summit, held under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, and Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, brought together First Ladies from across Africa and Asia.
In her remarks, Mrs. Ruto highlighted the impact of Kenya’s partnership with Merck Foundation, which has so far provided 244 scholarships for local doctors in critical and underserved specialities.
“I am very proud of our partnership with Merck Foundation. Together, we are strengthening and transforming our public healthcare landscape, through the 244 scholarships provided for our doctors. This is an extraordinary milestone that will leave a lasting impact on the quality and accessibility of healthcare across our nation,” she said.
Beyond healthcare, the First Lady underscored her commitment to advancing education for girls.
“Additionally, we are also supporting girl education through the ‘Educating Linda’ programme by sponsoring the education of 47 underprivileged yet high-performing Kenyan schoolgirls, until they graduate,” she added.
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej praised Mrs. Ruto’s leadership, noting that around 50 percent of the scholarships provided to Kenyan doctors have gone to female healthcare professionals, a milestone in women empowerment.
The scholarships cover a wide range of medical fields, including diabetes, endocrinology, cardiology, oncology, fertility, sexual and reproductive care, dermatology, psychiatry, and neonatal medicine, among others. Many graduates have already established specialist clinics across Kenya, improving access to care and raising public awareness about preventable conditions.
Merck Foundation’s collaboration with the Office of the First Lady of Kenya also extends to social awareness initiatives. Together, they have launched seven children’s storybooks addressing infertility stigma, girl education, gender-based violence, and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. The storybooks will soon be available in Swahili.
The First Lady also partnered with the foundation to launch eight awards targeting journalists, musicians, fashion designers, filmmakers, students, and creative talents, with the aim of amplifying health and social awareness through art, media, and culture.
The summit further provided a platform for First Ladies from Africa and Asia to share the impact of Merck Foundation programmes in their countries and discuss future strategies.
![President William Ruto flanked by Environment CS Aden Duale. [PCS]](https://newstrends.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/President-William-Ruto-flanked-by-Environment-CS-Aden-Duale-PCS-768x480.jpg)
