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. KRA escalates fight with lawyers

    Taxman insists that some law firms under-declare their incomes.

    DNKRA2211vr
  2. From Dubai, Ruto on yet another trip

    President is expected to spend two days in India advocating for health and education.

  3. PREMIUM The depth of Kenya's debt hole

    Public debt could exceed Sh10.9trn as IMF, World Bank approve additional Sh2trn loans.

  4. PREMIUM Brace for higher fuel prices on Ruto push for carbon tax

    Cost of fossil fuel and travel could rise should an ambitious new carbon tax proposal fronted by President Ruto sail through.

    Ruto with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
  5. Ruto, Harper laud NBA initiative as future of Kenyan basketball

    Ruto described the initiative as a turning point in the development of the sport in the country.

  6. Savings boost and doubled limits as Hustler Fund marks one year

    President Ruto says his administration is keen on building savings culture in the country.

    Ruto Hustler Fund’s first anniversary
  7. PREMIUM Big dilemma: Why Ruto is against referendum call

    Ruto and Raila are headed for a major clash over calls for a referendum.

    President William Ruto
  8. President Ruto jets out to Dubai for COP28

    President Ruto will represent Africa and market Kenya as the green powerhouse of the continent.

  9. Raila diehard Nuru Okanga in court for insulting President Ruto

    He is accused of circulating a video titled 'Nuru Okanga on Fire'.

  10. PREMIUM Revealed: Saudi Arabia’s secret plan to keep Kenya hooked to its oil

    Kenya has developed cordial relations with Saudi Arabia with President Ruto visiting Riyadh at least thrice since 2022.

    President Ruto in Riyadh
  11. PREMIUM Why court spared 3m Kenyans from housing levy

    Judges uphold 16 percent VAT on fuel levy, insurance premiums, digital asset tax, and the tax on betting.

    DNBungeHinga0308 (1)
  12. Ruto headache as Kenya Kwanza MPs target Cabinet Secretaries

    Cabinet Secretaries Kipchumba Murkomen (Roads), Davis Chirchir (Energy), and Ababu Namwamba (Sports) have recently faced public anger and accusations

  13. Judiciary revenue up 10pc to Sh2.6bn as fines, fees rise

    The funds the Judiciary collects are transferred to the exchequer Central Bank account.

  14. Row over Sh1.2bn owed to Spanish firm sucks in President Ruto

    The Spanish firm provided consultancy services for development of a dam in Ewaso Ng’iro.

    President William Ruto and Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez
  15. PREMIUM Raila, Ruto talk teams avoided any proposals that require a plebiscite

    Bipartisan talks team also threw the ball back to President Ruto and Mr Odinga on the cost of living issue.

    Voters queue to cast their ballots
  16. PREMIUM No joyriders: Mudavadi, Tuya to vet COP28 government attendees

    Head of public service asked the pair to check all State officials eyeing the Dubai event.

    rime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Environment CS Soipan Tuya
  17. National Dialogue Committee presents report after D-Day standoff

    The team is set to present to the National Assembly a list of agreed and disputed issues.

    National Dialogue Committee co-chairpersons Kalonzo Musyoka and Kimani Ichung'wah
  18. PREMIUM Puzzle of CSs unaware of appointments bearing their names

    Powerful State officials accused of usurping powers of ministers.

    Head of Public Service Felix Koskei
  19. President Ruto pledges action to tackle deadly flood emergency

    He says Kenya has lost 70 people because of the rains.

  20. Employers warn of mass layoffs due to rising costs

    Employers are complaining about the rising cost of production in the country.

    Habil Olaka