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. Ruto sticks to his guns

    Head of State responds to criticism from the Judiciary and the Opposition over his threat to disobey court orders.

    William Ruto
  2. Ruto listed among most influential Africans in 2023

    President Ruto described as Africa’s international statesman with steely resolve and disarming charm.

    William Ruto
  3. PREMIUM John Ngumi speaks on Safaricom exit

    Mr Ngumi was perhaps the most notable casualty as he was replaced as the Board chairman of Safaricom Plc.

    DNJOHNNGUMIa
  4. Omtatah now sues IGP Koome over Ruto’s ‘threats’

    He now wants the court to urgently intervene and issue an order compelling the police boss and his juniors to discharge the public duty imposed on them by the constitution

  5. PREMIUM Revealed: Raila's new game plan to counter Ruto

    It was on the basis of the new strategies that opposition chose to support the dialogue report despite misgivings.

    Raila Odinga
  6. PREMIUM Kenya makes U-turn on early Sh47bn Eurobond payment

    This marks a U-turn from the hard stop of December 31, 2023 for a $300 million buyback that was announced by President Ruto.

    dollar
  7. Audit: Uasin Gishu got the bulk of subsidised fertiliser

    The county received 789,763 bags of fertiliser out of the 3.4 million supplied across the country.

    Subsidised Fertiliser
  8. Ruto, MPs headed for clash over housing levy deductions

    Kilifi Senator Madzayo wants KRA to refund the amounts collected since July 2023.

    Senate Minority leader Stewart Madzayo
  9. PREMIUM Why petitioners want taxes capped at 20pc of workers’ salaries

    Kenyans have sued Ruto for introducing too many taxes.

    President William Ruto
  10. PREMIUM How splitting PIC enhanced audit of State Corporations

    The three PIC committees have examined financial reports of over 85 corporations.

    Parliament listens to President William Ruto’s address
  11. PREMIUM Kibaki lessons for Ruto from the 1970s economic crisis

    Kibaki steered the country through the global crisis of the 1970s and later cleaned up the mess left by the Kanu regime.

    Former President Mwai Kibaki
  12. PREMIUM Seb Coe lauds Ruto anti-doping pledge, reflects on rich 2023

    Coe launched his stellar athletics career at the age of 12 at Sheffield's Hallamshire Harriers.

  13. PREMIUM Makau Mutua: Kenya’s many immoral politicians

    President Ruto has started on a wobbly footing. The economy is reeling. Many of his political appointees leave a lot to be desired.

  14. Ruto: The country’s coffers were empty when we assumed office

    The President compared Kenya to an empty granary that had long been abandoned by rats.

    Ruto in Sugoi
  15. James Tembur appointed new NYS boss

    He takes over from Matilda Sakwa whose tenure ended in April.

    James Kipsiele Tembur, the newly appointed Director General of the National Youth Service.
  16. Counties set for Sh16.2bn revenue raise in new budget

    Treasury has proposed to allocate Sh401.6 billion to the devolved units in the next budget.

    National Treasury CS Prof Njuguna Ndung’u
  17. Treasury: Kenyans have defaulted on Sh9.9bn Hustler Fund loans

    The ratio of loan defaults is higher than in banks, saccos, and microfinance institutions.

    Simon Chelugui
  18. Daily eCitizen collections hit Sh900m

    The government collected an average of Sh300 million a day in November.

    e-Citizen
  19. PREMIUM How ‘unbwogable’ Toyota conquers Kenya’s Safari Rally

    The big question is whether Toyota will achieve another dominant performance, having won the past three editions.

    Frenchman Sebastien Ogier (right) and his navigator Vincent Landais of Britain
  20. Ruto man David Mugonyi lands top CA job

    David Mugonyi replaces Ezra Chiloba, who stepped down in October.