H.E. WIlliam Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya
The President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces
His Excellency Dr William Samoei Ruto was sworn in on September 13, 2022, after winning the Presidential election.
He was elected on August 9, 2022 on a United Democratic Party (UDA) ticket, a principal party, in the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
Before ascending to be President, Dr Ruto served as the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya from April 3, 2013 to September 12, 2022.
Political History
The President was first elected Member of Parliament for Eldoret North constituency on the Kenya African National Union (KANU) ticket. He served three terms - (1997-2013).
In 2002, he was a key campaigner for Uhuru Kenyatta and KANU, but they lost the election to Mwai Kibaki of the National Rainbow Coalition, who became the third President of Kenya.
During this period in the opposition, he served as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Reform in the 9th Parliament starting and leading the process of assembling the team and setting up the structures that put Kenya on the road to a new constitution.
He was elected KANU secretary general in 2005.
Dr Ruto has held several leadership positions in Government.
He was appointed Minister for Agriculture in the Coalition Government that was formed in 2008 and served for three years. During his tenure, he revived irrigation schemes and provided affordable fertilizer to farmers while working with maize, sugarcane, coffee and tea sectors to boost productivity and secure access to markets.
He was later appointed as the Minister of Higher Education where he sought to define education as acquisition of knowledge and skilling as well as elaborate policy on its value.
Early Life
Dr. Ruto was born on December 21, 1966, in Sambut, Kamagut Location in Uasin Gishu County, in the Rift Valley.
He attended Sambut Primary School and later joined Wareng Secondary School in Eldoret, before proceeding to Kapsabet High in Nandi County for his ‘A’ Levels. Thereafter, he was admitted to the University of Nairobi to study Botany and Zoology.
In 2008, he graduated with a Master of Science Degree in Plant Ecology and in December 2018 graduated with a PHD in Plant Ecology from the same university.
Dr Ruto is married to Rachel Chebet Ruto and they have seven children.
Policy Platform
Dr Ruto campaigned to be President on a platform of economic transformation and inclusivity for the everyday Kenyan, winning on an unprecedented first attempt.
Prior to ascending to the office of President, Dr Ruto worked with President Uhuru Kenyatta to form the Jubilee Alliance in 2012. The alliance brought together the United Republic Party (URP) led by Dr Ruto and the National Alliance Party (TNA) led by President Kenyatta and went on to win presidential elections in 2013 and 2017.