President William Kipchirchir Samoei Arap Ruto was born on December 21, 1966, in Sugoi, Uasin Gishu County.
His parents are Daniel Cheruiyot and Sarah Cheruiyot.
President William went through his primary school education at Kamagut Primary school before he joined Wareng Secondary School, and later Kapsabet Boys High School for his A levels.
Moreover, President Ruto continued his education by joining the University of Nairobi where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Botany and Zoology in 1990.
Years later, the head of state went back to the same university where he graduated with a Master of Science degree in 2011 and PhD in 2018.
Family
President William Ruto married his beloved wife and First lady Rachel Chebet in 1991. The couple first lived in Dagoretti area in Nairobi.
Together, they have seven children namely: Nick Ruto, June Ruto, Charlene Ruto, Stephanie Ruto, George Ruto, Nadia Cherop Ruto and Abby Ruto.
Moreover, Ruto owns a chicken farm in his home village of Sugoi, which was originally inspired by his history as a chicken hawker on the Nairobi-Eldoret-Malaba highway
Career
William Ruto worked as a teacher in the North Rift Region in Kenya where he was also the leader of the local African Inland Church.
It was through his church leadership work at the University of Nairobi that he met President Daniel Torotich Arap Moi.
Moreover, Ruto fully joined Kenyan politics during the 1992 general elections where he became the treasurer of the YK’92 which was a campaign group for the re-election of President Daniel Moi.
In 1998, Ruto was elected to parliament and afterwards served as the country’s minister of Home Affairs in 2002 for five months.
In January 2006, Ruto declared his interest in running for presidency in the 2007 general polls. However, reports say that his declaration was not received well by colleagues and the former president, Daniel Moi.
Nevertheless, when Mwai Kibaki got into power and formed his cabinet in 2008, Ruto was named Minister for Agriculture.
He later served as Eldoret North MP from 2008 to 2013.
In 2013, Ruto became President Uhuru Kenyatta’s deputy president a position he held until 2022. Between October 5 to 8, Dr. Ruto stepped in, to discharge state duties for President Uhuru Kenyatta who was away at the Hague.
After serving as Kenyan’s deputy president for 10 years, William Ruto vied for the country’s top seat. The 55-year-old won the presidential election in a tight race against his main political rival Raila Odinga.
William became Kenya’s fifth President despite his fallout with his boss Uhuru Kenyatta which supported Raila Odinga from the opposition team.
President William Samoei Ruto was sworn into to office in September 13, 2022. He is deputized by Rigathi Gachagua who also took the oath of office on the same day during the inauguration ceremony at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi.
Why Hustler Tittle?
President William Ruto who is Kenya’s fifth President had a childhood like the lives of many poor Kenyans.
During his primary school time, he walked barefoot to and from school wearing his first pair of shoes at the age of 15.
Furthermore, he sold chicken and ground nuts by the roadside in rural areas of the Rift Valley.
This are some of the reasons why he portrayed himself as the champion of the poor during his campaigns for Kenya’s top seat in the August 9 general election.
Dr. Ruto contested for presidency under the umbrella of Kenya Kwanza, Swahili for Kenya First, with a promise to grow the economy.
Nevertheless, unemployment rates in Kenya among youths has grown even higher. Unfortunately, the economy has not created more jobs for this group of Kenyans every year.
Thence, the phrase ‘Hustler Nation’ which refers to young people struggling to make ends meet.
Also Read: Ruto Appoints Six Judges
As a result, President Ruto promised to implement his bottom-up economy approach.
According to the president, this approach will benefit poor people and caution them from the high cost of living following the Covid19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.
Controversies In President Ruto’s Journey
President William’s journey has not been smooth. He has been accused of getting involved in a web of controversies.
ICC Case
In 2011, William Ruto was one of the six people accused of planning and sponsoring the 2007/2008 post-election violence.
The post-election violence led to the displacement of several people and death of over one thousand Kenyans.
The violence came about after the 2007 election was disputed. At that, Dr. William was charged in the International Criminal Court with crimes against humanity (murder, deportation or forcible transfer of population and persecution)
Trial for the case opened on September 10, 2013 and collapsed in 2016 due to insufficient evidence after crucial witnesses withdrew.
Land Grabbing Allegations
Dr. Ruto has been involved in land grabbing controversies. One was the mysterious acquisition of the Weston Hotel land that pitted him against public denials from several Kenyan governmental corporations and the original owner of the land.
Also Read: President Ruto Announces Removal Of Fuel Subsidy
Jacob Juma Assassination Allegations
In 2016, William Ruto was accused of killing Jacob Juma, a wealthy businessman, an anticorruption crusader, and a keen critic of the government.
Jacob Juma became famous for his cryptic tweets against William and the Jubilee government a few months before he was murdered.
Moreover, in December 2015, Jacob Juma, in his tweets, claimed William was obsessed with killing him. Unfortunately, Jacob was shot dead along Ngong Road in May 2016.
