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. Raila: Give dialogue team time to deliver

    Azimio leader claims that the Kenya Kwanza government is stifling devolution.

     Raila Odinga
  2. PREMIUM Ruto faces a crisis like Uhuru in 2015

    With the President away, a power struggle has deepened within the ruling coalition

    Jubilee Party Leader and former President Uhuru Kenyatta
  3. Male MPs the barrier in the two-thirds gender rule passage

    There have been ten unsuccessful attempts to implement the law spanning the 10th, 11th, and 12th parliaments.

  4. PREMIUM Inside the fights in Bomas talks

    Hassan Omar berates Jeremiah Kioni over his talk of dialogue failing.

    Jeremiah Kioni
  5. Ruto-Raila talks team facing major hurdles amid push-and-pull

    The talks resumed against the backdrop of a sustained attack by Kenyan Kwanza leaders.

    Kalonzo Musyoka
  6. The power women calling shots in key State agencies

    The movers and shakers hold decisive positions, shaping Kenya’s governance and administration in the public sector.

  7. PREMIUM Revealed: Secret push for 'Raila 2027' run

    Even though ODM chief has shown no interest in running in 2027, he is under pressure from his allies not to shelve his State House dream.

    Raila Odinga
  8. US restaurant owner accused of wage theft hosts President Ruto

    Onyona is facing prosecution from US authorities for allegedly stealing wages from employees.

    President William Ruto swahili village
  9. Little progress in implementation of Uhuru's 12 anti-GBV pledges

    Two years on, indicator integrated into state performance contracting framework by former president has since been dropped.

  10. PREMIUM The Ruto suits and pressure of high office

    If the President cannot early in his second year begin to solve the intractable economic problems, then we can expect to see more in his demeanor and mood.

    President William Ruto.
  11. Ruto firms grip on Parliament and opposition, one year on

    Thanks to his numerical strength in both Houses, the Head of State has successfully managed to pass crucial Bills.

  12. PREMIUM Raila's 10 million signatures secret card shocker

    Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition rated President William Ruto with a D minus grade.

     Raila Odinga
  13. PREMIUM Dedan Kimathi: How Angel of Death is killing grave search

    For many freedom fighters, this burial has kept his spirit in bondage and the current generation owes the freedom fighter a proper burial.

    Dedan Kimathi
  14. Raila: Ruto's first year in office is ‘extremely disastrous’

    Remarks follow a significant rise in fuel prices that hit the Sh200 mark per litre for the first time in history

    Raila Odinga
  15. PREMIUM The steep cost of Uhuru-Ruto fallout

    Kenyans will pick up the tab when the Ruto administration decides to do away with projects initiated by his predecessor.

    Former President Uhuru Kenyatta receives President William Ruto at State House
  16. Stem cost of political fallout

    The civil service should operate freely and efficiently irrespective of who or which political formation or party is at the helm

  17. Stop stigma against teenage mothers

    Readers’ reaction to a story published Tuesday manifested the unjust habit of stigmatising children with babies.

  18. PREMIUM Bomas hell: How Ruto saved besieged Chebukati

    Read how terrified IEBC boss and injured commissioners wanted to declare 2022 election results from a boardroom.

    Ruto Bomas
  19. President Ruto orders audit of UDA operations

    President tells party officials that he would be visiting the offices every month, amid reports that he wants to take charge of the party elections.

    William Ruto
  20. Defiant ODM rebels meet Ruto at State House

    The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to work with the government to support development programmes in Nyanza.