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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. PREMIUM Ruto allies revel in ‘successful’ Mt Kenya tour, eye 2027

    Ruto ends a high stakes tour of a region that delivered most of his votes.

    Mary Wamaua
  2. PREMIUM Ruto’s Mountain victory: Tales of what went wrong, right in tour

    President's strategists revelling in glee as enthusiastic residents turn out for rallies.

    New Content Item (1)
  3. PREMIUM Mutua: Why Haji’s lecture was historic

    Mr Haji’s lecture “Kenya’s Evolving Security Landscape” was a first for the NIS and the country.

    Noordin Haji
  4. Kang'ata: Why the 2027 political journey is still hazy

    A key political factor for 2027 might be Gen-Z.

    Shujaaz Memorial concert
  5. Raila backs governors in row with Ruto, MPs

    He has criticised the push by MPs to seize control of the Roads Maintenance Levy Fund.

    Raila Odinga
  6. PREMIUM Ruto: I will crush my opponents in 2027

    President tells Meru that he and Kindiki are inseparable and are working to unite Kenyans.

  7. PREMIUM Of prodigal son and the lonely protagonist: Ruto’s Mt Kenya tour

    Though not from the region, Mt Kenya backed Ruto fully in 2022.

  8. MP Mukunji in night arrest drama, then release after Ruto Embu address

    He was bundled into a Subaru car and taken away as his supporters protested.

    John Gitonga Mukinji, MP-elect for Manyatta constituency
  9. Ruto defends IG Kanja after police boss addresses rally

    This comes after Mr Kanja addressed a political rally in Kieni, Nyeri County, this week.

  10. Ruto, spy chiefs say fake news is a ‘threat to national security’

    President William Ruto has warned that fake news is now a growing threat to national security, coming after spy chief Noordin Haji said digital platforms are increasingly being used to fuel...

    Ruto social media
  11. Justin Muturi: President William Ruto is unfit for Head of State job

    Justin Muturi
  12. PREMIUM Court strikes Ruto's name from abduction case

    The case was linked to last year's youth-led anti-government demonstrations.

    Ruto
  13. PREMIUM Ruto drops Gachagua bombshells in night interview

    President hits back at former DP Gachagua, who has been criticising him since he was impeached last year.

  14. I will not isolate you, Ruto assures Mt Kenya residents

    President inspects and launches development projects during the start of his five-day tour.

    William Ruto
  15. Fact check: The Maua petrol station photo that got Kenya talking

    Social media users claims it is an old photo as the petrol station board shows old fuel prices.

    William Ruto
  16. Ruto team met with hostility in Nyandarua

    Residents heckled some leaders and refused to be addressed by them.

    Capture
  17. PREMIUM Full blast campaigns as Ruto, Raila parties gear up for polls

    It is a major battle to control UDA and ODM ahead of the 2027 General Election.

    Nation inside - 2025-04-03T115648.857
  18. PREMIUM Ruto: I am still the king of the Mountain

    President says he won't allow a person without vision and wisdom to destroy his friendship with people of Mt Kenya region.

    President William Ruto
  19. PREMIUM Onyango-Obbo: Will next revolution be memefied?

    Kenyans on social media are seething with anger.

    Protests