William Ruto served as Deputy President under Uhuru Kenyatta from 2013 to 2022, a period marked by initial close collaboration followed by a bitter fallout. In the first term (2013-2017), Ruto and Uhuru worked closely, particularly during their joint ICC cases, which were eventually dropped. Ruto managed government operations and led key initiatives like the laptop project and infrastructure development in the Rift Valley. The relationship began to fray after the 2018 Handshake between Uhuru and Raila Odinga, which marginalized Ruto. By 2020, Ruto was openly sidelined, excluded from key meetings, and his allies removed from leadership positions. He pivoted to positioning himself as an outsider championing hustlers against dynasties. The Deputy President's office became a platform for building a national political machine ahead of the 2022 election, which he won despite Uhuru's active opposition.
See Also
Ruto Deputy President and Executive Power Uhuru and Ruto Fallout The Handshake March 2018
Sources
- Nation Media Group political coverage 2013-2022.
- Standard Media Group archives.
- Cheeseman, Nic and Gabrielle Lynch. 'The Routledge Handbook of Democratization in Africa.' Routledge, 2020.