This archive report was first published on 2 August 2019.
On Thursday, Deputy President William Ruto spoke at the memorial service of the late Joyce Laboso in Nairobi, recalling the events that led to her decision to drop her husband's name in politics.
According to Ruto, he was among those who supported Laboso's bid to succeed her late sister, Lorna, who died in a plane crash while serving as the MP for Sotik in 2008.
However, Laboso's inter-ethnic marriage initially presented a challenge, with Ruto recalling that she confided in him about her concerns.
"She told me, 'You know my husband is Mr Abonyo and the way you know this politics it might become an issue'. I told her, 'Joyce we will craft a message to deal with that and we will insist you are the daughter of Mr Laboso'," Ruto narrated.
He further advised Laboso to talk to her husband, Dr Edwin Abonyo, to understand why she was dropping his name.
"Please ask Edwin not to mind if we do not put his name in our arrangements. And I want to say from that moment I realized Joyce had a super human being for a husband," Ruto told the mourners.
Laboso's husband, Dr Abonyo, was praised by Ruto for supporting his wife's political career and standing by her until the end.
