First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has won the hearts of many Kenyans with her commitment and orderliness which has come to be associated with her office.
While much of the praise has been heaped on Mrs Kenyatta, many are oblivious of the team that works behind the scenes to make her office organised and successful in its causes.
That team is headed by Constance "Connie" Gakonyo - the Chief of Staff in the Office of the First Lady.
Unknown to many, the relationship between the two predates their official duties. Their fathers, Ben Gakonyo and Njuguna Gakuo, were close friends and close confidantes of Kenya's founding President Jomo Kenyatta.
Gakuo served at the Kenya Railways Corporation while Mr Gakonyo headed the Agricultural Development Corporation.
Margaret and Connie are also former schoolmates at the prestigious Kianda school. The First Lady was in the class of 1980 while her Chief of Staff was two years behind - in the class of ‘82.
Ms Gakonyo would later go on to become a lawyer and is one of the pioneer women in Kenya's male-dominated corporate boardrooms.
She has served on the boards of major companies including the East African Breweries Ltd (EABL), Housing Finance Co. Ltd, Real Insurance The Standard Group Ltd, Home Afrika, among others.
After President Uhuru Kenyatta’s election in 2013, Gakonyo left her high-flying job to work with her childhood friend at State House.
She is credited as one of the brains behind the Beyond Zero Campaign that has risen to become one of the largest charities in Kenya.
Ms Gakonyo has also helped the First Lady in championing other causes including environmental protection, education, among others.
