William Ruto: From ‘hustler’ to Kenya’s president-elect

For 55-year-old President-elect William Samoei Ruto, clinching Kenya’s prime job was tough. After all, the outspoken politician has defied all odds, together with a rebuff from his former boss President Uhuru Kenyatta, to ascend to the nation’s highest workplace.

Wafula Chebukati, the chairman of Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), stated on Monday that Ruto had received nearly 7.18 million votes (50.49%) in opposition to 6.94 million (48.85%) for his rival Raila Odinga within the August 9 vote.

The announcement got here on the heels of a press release by the IEBC’s deputy chairperson and three different commissioners disowning the election outcomes.

“We cannot take ownership of the result that will be announced,” Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) vice chair Juliana Cherera informed reporters, saying the method was “opaque”.

Transforming Kenya

The outgoing president backed Ruto’s foremost rival, opposition chief Raila Odinga. But even that was not sufficient to cease the “hustler nation” — a time period Ruto coined to confer with most of Kenya’s casual sector staff.

Ruto has pledged to implement a brand new bottom-up financial mannequin. But how exactly that can work stays to be seen.

A supporter of presidential candidate Raila Odinga stands on his bike as he and others protest subsequent to a roadblock of burning tires within the Kibera neighbourhood of Nairobi, Kenya on August 15, 2022. (AP)

His celebration’s manifesto additionally requires drastic financial modifications to assist the much less lucky. In addition, Ruto has promised to create a cabinet that’s equally cut up between women and men.

In a latest interview with DW, Ruto spoke of his plan to remodel the agricultural sector to make sure meals safety.

“Agriculture is the most important sector that we have in Kenya. … There is absolutely no reason why we cannot produce enough food. There is no reason why 4 million Kenyans are starving,” he stated.

Humble beginnings

William Ruto was born on December 21, 1966, in Sambut Village, Kamagut, Uasin Gishu County. He accomplished his elementary education at Kerotet Primary School. He later attended Wareng Secondary School earlier than transferring to Nandi County’s Kapsabet Boys High School.

In 1990, he graduated in Botany and Zoology from the University of Nairobi, the place he would later earn his Ph.D.

William Ruto, and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua, present the certificates after the announcement within the presidential race on the Centre in Bomas, Nairobi, Kenya on August 15, 2022. (AP)

A confessed Christian, Ruto, met the late President Daniel Arap Moi throughout a church occasion. Moi is credited for exposing Ruto to Kenyan politics in 1992, following the nation’s transfer to multi-party democracy.

His humble beginnings — Ruto says he bought reside chickens to make ends meet in his youth — appeared to have resonated properly with the Kenyan voters, who presently should cope with the rising price of residing.

But president-elect Ruto is a distinct individual from the boy who obtained his first pair of sneakers on the age of 15. Today, Ruto is without doubt one of the wealthiest Kenyans, boasting a 2,500-acre ranch, a large poultry farm, and investments within the resort business.

Political rise, fall, and rise once more

Ruto launched his political profession by way of the Youth for KANU ’92 foyer, which supported late President Daniel Arap Moi, the president, throughout Kenya’s first multi-party elections in 1992.

After the defeat of KANU in 2002, Ruto reinvented himself and later partnered with Odinga through the disputed 2007 elections, which turned violent.

The post-election violence claimed greater than 1,000 lives and displaced a whole bunch of 1000’s of others. As a outcome, the International Criminal Court (ICC) indicted Ruto and Kenyatta, accusing the 2 of committing human rights abuses. However, the ICC dropped its fees in 2016.

Feud with Uhuru Kenyatta

At The Hague, Ruto and Uhuru bonded and would later bid for the presidency — Kenyatta because the candidate and Ruto as his deputy — in 2013. They received that vote in opposition to Raila Odinga, which might make this loss extra painful for Odinga.

In 2017, he and incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta had been working mates for a second time and had been re-elected once more.

The two then began to fall out in what was nonetheless not clear. Ruto and Kenyatta parted methods in 2021, and he was endorsed in March by the UDA celebration to contest the presidential vote.

William Ruto has been Kenya’s deputy president since 2013. He has beforehand served as minister of residence affairs, minister of agriculture, and minister of upper schooling.

Ruto is married to Rachel Chebet, and the 2 have seven kids.