William Ruto is a Kenyan politician and the incumbent Deputy President to President Uhuru Kenyatta since 2013.
The position of Deputy President until 2010 was known as the Vice President.
William Ruto’s full name is William Kipchirchir Samoei Arap Ruto. He was born on 21st December 1966 in Kamagut, Uasin Gishu County of Kenya to Daniel Cheruiyot and Sarah Cheruiyot.
He began school at Kerotet Primary School and Wareng Secondary School before advancing to Kapsabet Boys High School in Nandi County of Kenya for his A-Level certificate.
Ruto later graduated with a BSc in Botany and Zoology from the University of Nairobi in 1990 and then an MSc in Plant Ecology, graduating in 2011. He was also awarded a PhD in 2018.
William Ruto got married to his wife Rachel Chebet in 1991. Currently, the couple have 9 children. Ruto also acknowledged having a daughter with an ex-college lover Prisca Bett in 2017.
Here is a list of his children:
- Nick Ruto
- June Ruto
- Stephanie Ruto
- Nadia Ruto (adopted)
- Charlene Chelagat Ruto
- George Kimutai Ruto
In February 2017, Prisca Chemutai Bett claimed that Ruto had fathered her 11-year-old daughter Abby Cherop Ruto, a claim that Ruto acknowledged.
Ruto’s career
Ruto’s journey to the second most powerful office in the land began during the multiparty election in 1992 when he successfully campaigned for KANU presidential candidate, retired President Daniel Arap Moi.
Reports indicate that Ruto’s staunch religious life is what contributed to him joining politics.
It is reported that his introduction to Retired President Moi happened during his days as the head of a choir at a local church.
Apparently, Moi had attended a service at the church and he got interested in Ruto’s personality after hearing his moving prayer.
Ruto was the Organising Secretary of Youth for Kanu ’92 (YK92) popularly known as the “Young Turks”, a group that was formed to drum up support for Moi’s re-election.
Soon after, he developed his own political ambitions that saw him successfully vie for the Eldoret North parliamentary seat in 1997.
William Ruto Net Worth
We all agree that Dr. Ruto is among the top 10 richest people in Kenya, with an estimated net worth of over Ksh 41billion.
In 2021, Interior CS Fred Matiangi appeared before the National Assembly Security Committee where he listed 10 Ruto’s businesses, farms and private residences, after the controversial changes in DP’s security detail.
They include:
- Kitengela Gas
- Weston Hotel, Nairobi
- Murumbi Farm – Transmara Narok
- ADC Laikipia Mutara Ranch – 15000 acres
- Dolphine Hotel, Mombasa
- Mata Farm, Taita Taveta – 2537 acres
- Private residence Elgon View
- Koitalel poultry farm Eldoret
- Private Residence in Kosachei Eldoret
- Kwae Island Development Ltd – Wilson Airport (2 hangers and 5 helicopters)
