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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 drops Gachagua bombshells in night interview

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

  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. Ruto team met with hostility in Nyandarua

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

    Capture
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. PREMIUM Onyango-Obbo: Will next revolution be memefied?

    Kenyans on social media are seething with anger.

    Protests
  8. Ruto fires Irungu Nyakera

    He will be replaced by Samuel Waweru Mwangi.

    Irungu Nyakera
  9. PREMIUM Politics of 'hand cheques' and handshakes

    Tuju once said that then-DP William Ruto was paid billions of shillings for being Uhuru Kenyatta's running mate in 2013.

    William Ruto
  10. MPs' Sh300,000 pay rise is ridiculous

    The Salaries and Remuneration Commission was arm-twisted to “increase perks of the heavily paid legislators.

    Parliament Buildings
  11. Kiprono: Don’t suppress political slogans

    At its core, “Ruto Must Go” is not just about President William Ruto as an individual.

    Chief of Defence Forces General Charles Kahariri and Noordin Haji
  12. Ruto: Why I fired Justin Muturi

    'Am I the one who fired him, or is he the one who refused to work?'

    Nation inside - 2025-04-01T111810.534
  13. IG Kanja must stop extortion in police stations

    Some officers arrest suspects on flimsy grounds and lock them up in cells until money is paid for their freedom.

    Inspector-General of Police nominee Douglas Kanja
  14. Ruku should go beyond loyalty, chart own path

    His loyalty to President Ruto, while an asset, also makes him vulnerable to political shifts.

    Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku
  15. Gaitho: Security chiefs debasing themselves

    The big mistake our security chiefs make is to equate political challenges facing the President to threats to national security.

    Chief of Defence Forces General Charles Kahariri and Noordin Haji
  16. Ruto: Gachagua asked for Sh10bn, I refused to be blackmailed

    He has also criticised Mr Gachagua for fighting people within Kenya Kwanza government.

  17. Ruto, Gachagua allies clash in Gatanga

    Supporters of President William Ruto and those of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua clashed Sunday in Gatanga, Murang’a County, ahead of the president’s tour of Mt Kenya from Tuesday. The...

    William Ruto and Rigathi Gachagua
  18. PREMIUM Why Ledama meeting is causing tension in Kajiado

    The Maasai Council of Elders has opposed the meeting in Sajiloni.

    Ole Kina
  19. PREMIUM Ruto project? Not me, says Maraga

    Mr Maraga has been holding meetings across the country with various stakeholders, especially the youth, to popularise his bid.

    Retired Chief Justice David Maraga
  20. PREMIUM Why Kingi’s party will not fold into Ruto’s UDA

    Pamoja African Alliance is recruiting new members to increase its MPs, ward reps.

    Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi