William Ruto | |
|---|---|
 Official Potrait, 2022 | |
| 5th President of Kenya | |
| Assumed office 13 September 2022 Acting: 6 October 2014 – 9 October 2014 | |
| Deputy |
|
| Preceded by | Uhuru Kenyatta |
| 11th Deputy President of Kenya | |
| In office 9 April 2013 – 13 September 2022 | |
| President | Uhuru Kenyatta |
| Preceded by | Kalonzo Musyoka |
| Succeeded by | Rigathi Gachagua |
| Minister for Higher Education | |
| In office 21 April 2010 – 19 October 2010 | |
| President | Mwai Kibaki |
| Prime Minister | Raila Odinga |
| Preceded by | Sally Kosgei |
| Succeeded by | Hellen Jepkemoi Sambili (acting) |
| 16th Minister for Agriculture | |
| In office 17 April 2008 – 21 April 2010 | |
| President | Mwai Kibaki |
| Prime Minister | Raila Odinga |
| Preceded by | Kipruto Arap Kirwa |
| Succeeded by | Sally Kosgei |
| Minister for Home Affairs | |
| In office 30 August 2002 – December 2002 | |
| President | Daniel arap Moi |
| Preceded by | George Saitoti |
| Succeeded by | Moody Awori |
| Member of Parliament for Eldoret North | |
| In office 29 December 1997 – 9 April 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Reuben Chesire |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Kipchirchir Arap Ruto 21 December 1966 Kamagut, Kenya |
| Political party | United Democratic Alliance (2021–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
|
| Spouse | |
| Children | 7, including Charlene |
| Residence | State House |
| Education | University of Nairobi (BSc, MSc, PhD) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | Official website |
William Kipchirchir Samoei Arap Ruto CGH (born 21 December 1966) is a Kenyan politician who is the fifth and current president of Kenya since 13 September 2022. Prior to becoming president, he served as the first elected deputy president of Kenya from 2013 to 2022. Previously, holders of the position were referred to as Vice President and the officeholder was unelected and appointed by the President.[1][2][3][4] He previously served in three cabinet portfolios as the Minister for Home Affairs, the Minister of Agriculture and as Minister for Higher Education.
Ruto was elected Member of Parliament for Eldoret North constituency from 1997 to 2007 under the KANU, and from 2007 to 2013 through the ODM party. He was the Minister for Home Affairs in the Daniel arap Moi administration from August to December 2002.
Under the Mwai Kibaki administration, he was the Minister for Agriculture from 2008 to 2010 and Minister for Higher Education from April to October 2010. Ruto first contested for the presidency during the 2007 election, but lost to Raila Odinga on the ODM party primaries; together with Musalia Mudavadi, who finished second, he then supported the candidature of Odinga. He again ran for the presidency on the 2013 election, but withdrew his candidature in favour of Uhuru Kenyatta.
He was later nominated to run for the deputy presidency in the 2013 election under the United Republican Party, becoming the running mate of Uhuru Kenyatta from The National Alliance (TNA). He was re-elected to the deputy presidency under the Jubilee Party in the 2017 Kenyan general election. Ruto successfully ran for the presidency in the 2022 election, this time under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Amidst a fall-out, Kenyatta supported his opponent Raila Odinga. The election was marred by allegations of electoral fraud by allies of Odinga, although international observers have not corroborated such claims.[5][6]
- ^ "Kenya's deputy president Ruto declared election winner". AP NEWS. 15 August 2022. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
- ^ "The Office Of The Deputy President, Kenya". deputypresident.go.ke. 17 May 2022. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ "William Ruto". kenyans.co.ke. 17 May 2022. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ "Kenya General Election Results (2013)". iebc.or.ke. 17 May 2022. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ Wangari, Stephanie (15 August 2022). "Four IEBC Commissioners distance themselves from final stage of presidential poll tallying". Nation. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
- ^ Mwakideu, Chrispin (13 September 2022). "William Ruto: Kenya's newest president". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 12 February 2023.