Born on December 21, 1966, William Ruto is the son of Daniel and Sarah Cheruiyot from Kamagut, Uasin Gishu. He began his education at Kerotet Primary School, continued to Wareng Intermediate School for his Ordinary Levels, and completed his advanced studies at Kapsabet Boys High School in Nandi.
Ruto then enrolled at the University of Nairobi, earning a Bachelor of Science in Botany and Zoology in 1990, where he also served as chairman of the Christian Union and graduated top of his class. In 2011, he furthered his education with an MSc in Environmental Science.
Ruto’s political journey is equally impressive. He has represented Eldoret North Constituency in Parliament since 1997 and served as Kenya’s first Deputy President under the 2010 Constitution from 2013 to 2022. In 2022, he became the fifth President of Kenya.
Despite his rise to the top, Ruto has often spoken fondly of his early life in Dagoretti South, Nairobi, particularly the Ngando area in Kawangware, where he and his future wife, Rachel Ruto, lived in a modest rental home paying just Shs 1,750 per month. It was in this humble house that the couple welcomed their first child, marking the start of their family life together.
Before attending university, the 1990 Kapsabet Boys graduate also worked as an evangelist, a role that shaped his leadership skills and community engagement before he fully embarked on his political and academic journey.
From humble beginnings in Kawangware to the highest office in the nation, William Ruto’s story is a testament to perseverance, dedication, and ambition.
