Former primary school classmate to Deputy President William Ruto, Truphosa Chebatip, has narrated how the second in command once ran away from school after receiving a thorough beating from their English teacher.
Wednesday, June 8, Chebatip to the standard that they were in Standard Five when the incident happened, adding that the DP had challenges writing compositions.
Ruto’s classmate further divulged that he fled to his relative’s place and rejoined the school later after things calmed.
“I went to Kamagut School and we started in 1970. We went to the same primary school with Ruto but we initially started school together way back in nursery school.
“My mother was our teacher in 1972 and we studied together until one time when our English teacher, Erick Sika, canned the whole class until Ruto ran away to the sister’s place,” she stated.
Upon return, Chepatip stated that they were reunited and were engaged in various school activities including learning music.
During the interview, she also recounted how she and the DP entertained the late President Daniel Arap Moi during one of his visits to the area in 1978.
“When he came back, we learnt a Luhya song and in 1978 we sang for President Moi during his visits. To date, I can remember the song. Ruto together with another student also sang the song another time and they were taken to Eldoret.”
Additionally, Chebatip disclosed that most of the families were struggling to make ends meet further revealing a moment when all the students had bed bugs because of the untidiness among them and their families.
“We used to have one pair of uniforms. It was colour blue. We never had soap and one time everybody in the class caught beg bugs,” she stated.
Chebatip described Ruto as a humble student despite missing out on holding any leadership position in the school.
“I was the bell ringer but Ruto did not have any post. However, he was very polite despite having no post,” she added.
