She stepped off the plane in a hat, dark glasses and a scarf printed with the word "Tanzania", and within moments Charlene Ruto was dancing with the drummers sent to greet her.

The daughter of President William Ruto arrived in Mwanza, the hometown of her fiance Isaya Yunge, on Wednesday, November 4, in a video she shared online with a simple "Tanzania" hashtag. The clip, picked up by K24 Digital and The Standard's TNX Africa, shows traditional performers waiting at the airport, a private aircraft and a convoy of luxury vehicles.

A wedding expected this weekend

According to TNX Africa, Charlene is set to walk down the aisle with Yunge this weekend in Mwanza, with the outlet putting the date at Friday, November 6. Family, friends and invited guests from both Kenya and Tanzania are expected. Neither family has publicly announced the venue.

The ceremony follows a traditional Kalenjin engagement, known as Koito, held on August 8, 2026, at Intonna Heritage Farm in Kilgoris, Narok County, which formally brought the two families together.

Yunge is a technology entrepreneur from Mwanza and the founder of SomaApps, an education platform that links African students with scholarship opportunities.

Bridal shower and a mother's blessing

The Tanzania trip came a day after a bridal shower in Nairobi on Tuesday, November 3. The event was decorated in white and purple, with Charlene in a white gown and guests in pink. Her sister Stephanie was among those present, and the cake carried the messages "Miss Babe to Mrs Babe" and "Hey Mrs Yunge".

"Grateful that the amazing women I have done life with over the years chose to celebrate me in my new season," Charlene wrote afterwards.

Mpasho also reported on Thursday that First Lady Rachel Ruto took centre stage at a pre-wedding blessing for her daughter, where relatives and close friends gathered to pray for Charlene and offer guidance as she prepares for marriage. The outlet did not give the location of the event.

Tanzanians roll out the welcome

Online, Tanzanian social media users have welcomed the bride-to-be warmly, with many calling her "wifi", Kiswahili for sister-in-law, according to K24 Digital.

The wedding is one of the most talked-about celebrity events in the region this season. It joins two neighbouring countries' families in a union that has drawn steady attention since the couple's engagement became public.

Charlene has kept many details of the wedding private, sharing glimpses mainly through her own social media pages.

Photos: Charlene Ruto via K24 Digital (Instagram/TikTok screengrabs); Mpasho. Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.