The husband of President William Ruto’s daughter Charlene Ruto, Isaya Yunge has opened up about a difficult and heartbreaking childhood.
He told YahStoneTown 2020 in an interview that was aired on YouTube that he was very young when his parents split.
He was taken in by his grandmother and raised in Mwanza, Tanzania. However it did not come without its difficulties as he would have to wake up at around 5am to herd the cattle and keep the birds away from the crops.
Although occasionally visited, given clothes and gifts by his mother he was desperate for her to stay around. He said that when she would leave he felt heartbroken.
One day he got so desperate that he snuck onto the bus his mother was on and hid underneath one of the seats. Eventually he arrived at his father’s house after his mother had gotten off.
But unfortunately, his father was not happy to have him around as his new partner did not want him there. As a result his father sent him away. He was forced to go back to his grandmother’s.
He faced difficulties there as he was not given any food by one of his aunts. Eventually he moved in with his mother as she insisted he do so.
Unfortunately this did not help much as his siblings were going to private schools whereas he was given exhausting tasks to do. He would cycle to get water from around 30 minutes away and would have to do this multiple times from morning to night.
He said he felt like he was being treated unfairly and did not want him around.
Many people on social media have been moved by his story. Many commented with sympathy and said how strong he is. Others wished him well.
It gives an insight into the hardships he has faced prior to becoming well known after marrying Charlene Ruto.