Margaret Kenyatta
Former First Lady of Kenya (2013–2022)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Margaret Gakuo Kenyatta (born 8 April 1964) is a Kenyan educator who served as First Lady of Kenya from 2013 to 2022. She is married to Uhuru Kenyatta, the fourth president of Kenya.
8 April 1964
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 8 April 1964 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
Early life and education
Margaret Kenyatta was born to a Kenyan father, Njuguna Gakuo, a former director of the Kenya Railways Corporation, and a German mother, Magdalena.[1][2]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[3] which includes mother and child wellness.[4][5] She has a mother-baby hospital unit after her name there.[4] Kenyatta has encouraged patients to fight cancer through early screening for breast, cervical and prostate cancer[6] 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,[7] and promoting the conservation of historic sites and monuments.[8]
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,[9] to reduce child maternal mortality rates. On 24 October 2014, she was named Kenya Person of the Year.[10] She is Catholic and serves as an alumna of the Catholic girls' school, Kianda School.[11]