By Mical Imbukwa
Kenya’s First Lady, Rachel Ruto, has called for stronger partnerships to address inequalities in healthcare, education and women’s empowerment across Africa, saying leadership should be measured by its ability to create opportunities for those facing the greatest barriers.
Speaking virtually during the inauguration of the 13th Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2026 conference, the First Lady said millions of women and girls across the continent continue to face challenges that limit their potential despite Africa’s vast opportunities.
“This reality challenges all of us, but it also calls us to action because leadership at its highest calling is about ensuring that where a person begins in life does not determine where they end,” she said, noting that it is about opening doors where none existed, creating opportunities where barriers once stood and restoring hope where it may have been lost.
The First Lady conveyed greetings from President William Ruto and commended the Merck Foundation for its contributions to strengthening healthcare systems, supporting girls’ education and advancing women’s empowerment across Africa and Asia.
The first lady joined 11 other First Ladies from Africa and Asia in inaugurating the 13th edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary, an annual conference organised by the Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA, Germany. The two-day virtual conference brought together policymakers, healthcare experts, media practitioners and development partners from more than 57 countries.
Congratulating the Foundation on its ninth anniversary and 14 years of development work, Ruto described its impact as “14 years of hope, 14 years of opportunity and 14 years of changing stories that once seemed impossible to change.”
She highlighted the challenges faced by many women across Africa, including long journeys to access healthcare, girls missing school due to poverty and patients waiting months for specialised treatment because of shortages of trained medical professionals.
“The question before us is simple: How do we turn potential into opportunity? How do we transform hope into tangible change?” she asked, adding that partnership is what makes transformation possible.
Ruto said Kenya’s collaboration with the Merck Foundation has helped strengthen the country’s healthcare workforce through specialised medical training.
“Today, I am proud to share that through our partnership, 328 Kenyan healthcare professionals have received scholarships in specialised medical fields,” she said.
While the figure may appear as a statistic, she noted that every scholarship represents lives transformed through improved access to specialised healthcare services.
“I hear the heartbeat of a mother who receives specialised care during childbirth. I hear a cancer patient finding treatment closer to home. I hear a family spared the pain of travelling thousands of kilometres in search of medical expertise,” she said.
The First Lady also praised the Educating Linda programme, which supports girls from vulnerable backgrounds to remain in school and pursue their dreams.
She cited examples of beneficiaries who aspire to become doctors, lawyers and surgeons, describing them as symbols of Kenya’s future.
“I often say that when we educate a girl, we do not change one life; we change generations,” she said. “When we invest in a girl, we are not simply supporting a student, we are nurturing a future doctor, lawyer, scientist, leader and changemaker.”
Ruto also reaffirmed her support for the Merck Foundation’s “More Than a Mother” campaign, which seeks to end stigma against infertile and childless women.
“No woman should ever be defined by her fertility. No woman should ever carry the burden of stigma because of circumstances beyond her control,” she said. “Her worth is inherent, her dignity is non-negotiable, her value is God-given.”
The conference marked the ninth anniversary of the Merck Foundation and 14 years of its development programmes.
Merck Foundation CEO Dr. Rasha Kelej said the conference provided an opportunity for First Ladies, healthcare experts and development partners to exchange experiences and assess the impact of programmes aimed at transforming patient care and addressing critical social and health issues.
“It is a great privilege to welcome our distinguished Guests of Honour and Keynote Speakers, the First Ladies of Africa and Asia, who are the Ambassadors of our ‘More Than a Mother’ campaign,” said Kelej. “Together, we exchanged valuable experiences and engaged in meaningful discussions on the impact of our programmes.”
She revealed that the Foundation has provided more than 2,600 scholarships to healthcare providers from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved medical specialities, with many beneficiaries becoming the first specialists in their countries.
Kelej added that more than 800 scholarships have specifically supported healthcare providers in fertility, embryology, sexual and reproductive medicine, women’s health, psychiatry, urology and family medicine, helping strengthen fertility care and improve women’s health services across 42 countries.
Prof. Dr Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, praised the commitment of the participating First Ladies and partners in advancing healthcare and social development.
“I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the First Ladies of Africa and Asia who joined us as Guests of Honour, as well as to the ministers, healthcare experts, policymakers, government officials, academia, media representatives and all our partners for their unwavering support and collaboration,” he said.
He reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to improving access to quality and equitable healthcare, building healthcare capacity and enhancing wellbeing across Africa, Asia and beyond.
“Together, we will continue advancing our vision of a world where everyone can lead a healthy and happy life,” he added.
Beyond healthcare training, the Foundation has trained more than 4,000 media professionals from over 42 countries to strengthen reporting on health and social issues and supports more than 1,550 schoolgirls annually through educational scholarships.
Ruto concluded by urging governments, foundations, healthcare professionals, educators, media practitioners and development partners to continue working together to create lasting change.
“As we celebrate this important forum, let us remember that our greatest legacy will always be the lives we change,” she said. “Together, let us continue transforming lives. Together, let us continue creating hope. Together, let us continue building a future where no one is left behind.”