President William Ruto’s daughter, Cullie Ruto, was thrust into the public spotlight after graduating from Heriot-Watt University with a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Architecture.
The milestone was celebrated on July 2 by President Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto, who traveled to Dubai to witness the graduation ceremony.
Who is Cullie Ruto?
Cullie Ruto is one of the children of President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto, and she is listed as the sixth of President Ruto’s eight children.
Unlike some of her siblings who have embraced public life, Cullie has maintained a remarkably low profile.
She rarely attends public events, avoids political activities, and stays largely out of the spotlight, with little presence on social media.
Her reserved personality has earned her the reputation of being one of the least-known children of the President.
Cullie pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Architecture at Heriot-Watt University and completed her studies in 2026.
Also Read: Little-Known Details of Prisca Bett, the Mother of William Ruto’s Daughter Abby Cherop
When Kenyans First Took Notice of Cullie
Although Cullie Ruto has largely stayed away from public life, many Kenyans first noticed Cullie Ruto during President Ruto’s official State Visit to the United States in May 2024.
She accompanied the First Family, along with her sisters June and Stephanie, to several official engagements, including events at the White House.
During the welcoming ceremony on May 23, 2024, then-US President Joe Biden specifically acknowledged “President Ruto’s daughters June, Stephanie and Cullie.”
The elegant fashion choices of Cullie Ruto during the visit also drew praise on social media, and Kenyans admired her understated style.
Cullie’s graduation comes 2 months after President Ruto publicly apologized to his daughter, admitting he made a mistake by discouraging her from studying film after secondary school
Speaking at the 14th Kalasha International Film and TV Awards held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre on May 2, the President acknowledged that his perspective had shifted after witnessing the work showcased at the awards.
However, he declined her request and encouraged her to pursue another career path.
Reflecting on the visit to the renowned film studios, President Ruto admitted he had made the wrong decision.
“I must this evening apologize to my daughter, Chepng’etich. She had asked me after Form Four if she could do film, and I said no.”
He added:
“Watching what I have watched this evening, it was a mistake on my part. I should have allowed her to do film. She went on to work in interior design, but I’m sure that if she’s watching me somewhere, she now knows I said she was right. I was not.”
Also Read: 10 Little-Known Facts About President Ruto That Might Surprise You
President William Ruto’s Children
Cullie Ruto is one of President William Ruto’s eight children and comes from a large family.
Her eldest brother, Nick Ruto, is a lawyer who was admitted as an Advocate of the High Court in 2019 after graduating from the Kenya School of Law and is married to Evelyn Chemtai.
Her sister, Charlene Ruto, is the Founder and CEO of The Young People’s Network International and chairs the board of Weston Hotel Nairobi. Charlene holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Daystar University and an MBA in Hospitality Administration and Management from Les Roches.
Another sister, June Ruto, is a diplomat who studied Diplomacy at the United States International University (USIU) and International Relations at the University of Queensland in Australia.
She previously served at Kenya’s Embassy in Rome and married Alexander Ezenagu in 2021.
Cullie’s brother, George Ruto, graduated from Strathmore University with a degree in Actuarial Science, is a licensed pilot, and has established himself in Kenya’s transport industry.
Her sister, Stephanie Jepchumba Ruto, is a trained lawyer and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree from Strathmore University.
The President and First Lady also adopted Nadia Cherono Ruto, who was rescued as a newborn in 2015 after being abandoned near a Catholic church in Machakos County and has since been raised as part of the First Family.
President Ruto also has another daughter, Abby Cherop Ruto, with Prisca Chemutai Bett. Abby gained national attention after scoring 406 marks in the 2019 KCPE examinations.
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