William Ruto's political rise from a humble background to the presidency is one of modern Kenya's most remarkable political stories. Born in 1966 in Uasin Gishu County to a poor family, he sold chickens by the roadside as a child. He earned a degree in botany and zoology, then entered politics in the early 1990s as a YK92 youth organizer supporting Moi's reelection. Moi rewarded him with a parliamentary seat in 1997 (Eldoret North) at age 31. Ruto served in various ministerial roles, building wealth and political networks. He backed Raila Odinga in 2007, becoming Minister for Agriculture, but broke with him over the 2010 Constitution. Facing ICC charges, Ruto allied with Uhuru Kenyatta in 2013, becoming Deputy President. Their relationship soured by 2018, and Ruto spent years building a national hustler movement. He won the presidency in 2022 against Raila Odinga.
See Also
Ruto Early Life and Privilege Ruto Deputy President and Executive Power Ruto Cabinet
Sources
- Hornsby, Charles. 'Kenya: A History Since Independence.' I.B. Tauris, 2012.
- Cheeseman, Nic and Gabrielle Lynch. 'The Routledge Handbook of Democratization in Africa.' Routledge, 2020.
- Nation Media Group political coverage.