The Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya, William Ruto was earlier today, Monday, announced as the winner of the 2022 presidential election in Kenya, after narrowly defeating his closest rival, Raila Odinga to become the fifth president of the republic of Kenya since Independence.
After six days of delay in the announcement of results due to an alleged vote-buying claim by Raila Odinga’s camp, Mr Ruto, who polled 50.49 percent of the total votes cast, was declared as the winner of the election by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Mr Ruto’s victory in the election means he will be taking over from the incumbent President, Uhuru Kenyatta, who has served his two-term limit in office.
Here are 5 things to know about Ruto, the new President-elect of Kenya.
- His full name is William Kipchirchir Samoei Arap Ruto, born on December 21, 1966 in Sambut village, Kamagut, Kenya to Daniel Cheruiyot and Sarah Cheruiyot.
- Ruto worked as a teacher in the North Rift region of Kenya from 1990 to 1992, where he was also the leader of the local African Inland Church Choir.
- Ruto has Bsc in Botany and zoology, MSc in Plant Ecology, and a PhD all from the University of Nairobi, Kenya.
- He married his wife, Rachel Chebet Ruto, an educationist in 1991 and He began his political career as the treasurer of the YK’92 campaign group that lobbied for the re-election of President Daniel Moi in 1992.
- In 1997, he ran for a seat in the parliament and defeated the incumbent of the seat, Reuben Chesire.
- Ruto has served as minister for home affairs, minister for Agriculture and Minister for higher education respectively.
- In the 2013 presidential election, Ruto was elected the Deputy President alongside President Uhuru Kenyatta and served till 2022. He served as the acting President of Kenya between October 5 and 8, 2014 while President Kenyatta was away at the Hague.
