William Ruto

DATE OF BIRTH


December 21, 1966

GENDER


Male

OCCUPATION


Politician, Botanist

FAMILY


Married Rachel in 1991

BIOGRAPHY


Dr Ruto, PhD, is the President of the Republic of Kenya.

He was born in Sugoi, Uasin Gishu County in 1966. 

Education background: Early schooling at Kamagut Primary, then joined Wareng Secondary School, followed by Kapsabet Boys High School for his A levels. He joined the University of Nairobi where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Botany and Zoology in 1990. He returned to same university years later and graduated with a Master of Science degree in 2011 and PhD in 2018.

Dr Ruto has served as Kenya’s deputy president since 2013 when he was elected as President Uhuru Kenyatta’s running mate. In October 2014, he served as acting President when Mr Kenyatta briefly relinquished power to attend to his criminal case at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands. Mr Kenyatta's charges were later dropped.

In 2011, he was named among the six individuals who planned and sponsored the 2007/08 post-election violence in which 1,200 people were killed and many others displaced over a disputed following a disputed presidential election. Dr Ruto was charged alongside journalist Joshua Arap Sang with crimes against humanity (murder, deportation or forcible transfer of population and persecution) during violence that followed the 2007 elections. The trial of Dr Ruto and Mr Sang opened on 10 September 2013. 

Dr Ruto's case at the ICC also collapsed in 2016. At the time, the court ruled there was insufficient evidence after crucial witnesses withdrew

He was a co-founder and key member of the infamous Youth for Kanu 1992 (YK92), a lobby group that campaigned for late President Daniel Moi in the 1992 general elections. Earlier, he had met Mr Moi, his political mentor, through his involvement in church activities. 

He was first elected to Parliament in 1997 as MP for Eldoret North. Dr Ruto served as an assistant minister in the Office of the President from 1998 to 2002 when he was elevated to cabinet as Minister for Home Affairs following the sacking of George Saitoti by Mr Moi after disagreements over the 2002 succession. Dr Ruto has also served as Minister for Agriculture and Higher Education. 

Dr Ruto opposed the referendum on the new Constitution in 2005 and 2010. 

He set his eyes on the 2022 presidential election which he contested on a UDA ticket under the Kenya Kwanza Alliance. 

On August 15, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chair Wafula Chebukati declared Dr Ruto Kenya's President elect after garnering 50.49 percent of the vote against Raila Odinga's 48.85 percent. 

Mr Odinga challenged the results at the Supreme Court. However, the seven-judge bench upheld Dr Ruto's win. The court said it found no evidence of hacking and that no evidence was produced to show that Mr Chebukati and other IEBC staff were involved. 

Latest articles on William Ruto:

  1. Facebook and Instagram to pay Kenyan creatives from June

    The move follows deal between President Ruto and Meta.

    Meta
  2. PREMIUM Inside Kenya Kwanza’s new financial plan

    The new plan will need a champion operating outside the national treasury.

    Prof Njuguna Ndung'u
  3. Big win for Ruto as MPs remove cap on number of CAS

    If the Bill becomes law, CASs will rank above MPs in the pecking order.

    William Ruto
  4. Ruto: Why I'm rooting for Raila in AU job bid

    The President says the government is determined to secure the post.

    President William Ruto
  5. PREMIUM Why the US wants Kenya to send police to Haiti

    About 138,000 Haitians have entered the US legally since 2022.

    Police in Port-au-Prince, Haiti
  6. PREMIUM Kagwanja: Ruto-Odinga ‘handshake’ is a wake-up call to plan for 2027

    The game of politics is about the future, not about the past.

    President William Ruto
  7. PREMIUM Mutua: Back Raila fully for AU top job

    Mr Odinga is one of the most qualified individuals to ever gun for the position.

    Raila Odinga
  8. Nairobi Business Community: Ruto taxes, county askaris hurting trade

    Sakaja promised to put an end to the running battles between county askaris and traders.

    Nyamakima
  9. Kuria now only CS without prestigious EGH title, award

    EGH award is given in recognition of outstanding services to the nation.

    Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria
  10. Ruto furious after governors booed at his meetings

    The President said it was improper for people attending his meetings to shout down leaders

    President William Ruto
  11. PREMIUM Ruto, Raila Bill seeks to avoid another 'Maraga moment'

    President Ruto and Mr Raila pushing for severe punishment for electoral offences.

    David Maraga
  12. PREMIUM How Ruto, Raila Bills will change politics

    Proposed creation of the PM office has the potential to alter the next general elections.

    Kalonzo Musyoka
  13. Luhya leaders flex muscles in region’s leadership battle

    Recent attacks by Natembeya against Wetang’ula have ignited talk of clamour for control of the region.

    Western leaders
  14. Remotasks ‘blocked in Kenya’ after user’s encounter with Ruto

    The platform has grown in popularity among young unemployed Kenyans seeking remote work.

    Remotasks online working platform
  15. Push to cap housing levy at Sh2,500 flops

    Ruto was handed a major win in his push to entrench the controversial Housing Levy.

    Workers at an affordable housing site
  16. Kindiki: No turning back on police deployment to Haiti

    Kenyan officers will be deployed to Haiti as part of a United Nations-sponsored security mission.

    Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki addresses a public baraza in Moyale town in Marsabit County in February. 
  17. Blinken phones President Ruto over Haiti crisis

    Haiti entered a state of emergency last Sunday after fighting escalated.

    Antony Blinken
  18. Taking stock: Ruto to meet Kenya Kwanza MCAs

    Parties to deliberate on the forthcoming activities of the ruling alliance.

    William Ruto
  19. PREMIUM Gachagua caught between the mountain and a hard place

    The truce between Ruto and Raila raises fears of betrayal in Mt Kenya region.

     Rigathi Gachagua
  20. PREMIUM Tension in Azimio over return of 'lost' Uhuru, Raila allies

    Ngilu, Joho, Junet and Gideon re-emerge after a long absence from the limelight.

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