16 things to know about Kenya’s president-elect Ruto

Deputy President William Ruto has won 2022 Kenya’s presidential election.

Ruto will become Kenya’s fifth President since independence.

He defeated the opposition leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who was contesting his fifth election.

Here are 16 things to know about Kenya president-elect Ruto

1. William Samoei Arap Ruto was born on 21 December 1966 in Sambut village, Kamagut, Uasin Gishu County to Daniel Cheruiyot and Sarah Cheruiyot.

2. He attended Kerotet Primary School.

3. He was enrolled in Wareng Secondary School for his Ordinary Levels education before proceeding to Kapsabet Boys High School in Nandi County for his Advanced Levels.

4. He proceeded to receive a BSc in Botany and Zoology from the University of Nairobi, graduating in 1990.

5. After graduating from the University of Nairobi in 1990, Ruto was employed as a teacher in the North Rift region of Kenya from 1990 to 1992 where he was also the leader of the local African Inland Church(AIC) Choir.

6. Ruto later enrolled for MSc in Plant ecology, graduating in 2011.

7. In 2012, he enrolled for a Ph.D. and after several setbacks, he completed and was awarded a Ph.D. from the University of Nairobi, graduating on 21 December 2018

8. He is the serving Deputy President of Kenya since 2013 when he was elected the Deputy President alongside President Uhuru Kenyatta under the Jubilee Alliance ticket.

9. Ruto was a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1998 to 2013.

10. He served as Minister for Home Affairs in the Daniel Arap Moi administration from August to December 2002.

11. He later served in the Mwai Kibaki administration as Minister of Agriculture from 2008 to 2010 and as Minister for Higher Education from April to October 2010.

12. Ruto owns a considerable chicken farm in his home village of Sugoi, which was originally inspired by his stint as a live chicken hawker on the Nairobi-Eldoret highway.

13. On 6 October 2014, Ruto was appointed acting president of Kenya by President Uhuru Kenyatta following his summons to appear before the ICC.

14. On December 2020 Ruto announced his alliance with the newly formed United Democratic Alliance party.

15. He is the only 2022 presidential candidate who attended the 2022 presidential debate.

More to come…..