our roots

37 th GrADUATION GUEST OF HONOR
Hon. William Samoei arap Ruto
Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya
Hon. William Samoei arap Ruto is the first elected Deputy
President of the Republic of Kenya. He was elected alongside
President Uhuru Kenyatta, in March 2013, on a Jubilee Coalition
ticket. Hon Ruto served as the Acting President of the Republic
of Kenya between 5 and 8 October 2014 while President Uhuru Kenyatta
was away at The Hague.
Hon. Ruto was born 21 December 1966 in Kamagut, Uasin Gishu
to Daniel Cheruiyot and Sarah Cheruiyot. He attended Kerotet Primary
School for his primary school education then joined Wareng Secondary
School for his Ordinary Level education before proceeding to Kapsabet
Boys, Nandi for his Advanced Level. He went on to pursue a BSc of
Botany and Zoology, from the University of Nairobi, where he graduated
in 1990, top of his class. Hon Ruto was offered a scholarship for postgraduate
studies by the University of Nairobi. He was a member of
Christian Union where he served as the Chairman. In 2008, Hon Ruto
graduated with a Master’s of Science Degree in Plant Ecology. Hon Ruto
is currently pursuing a PhD from the same University.
He is married to Rachel Chebet, a teacher, who he met when they
were both undergraduate students at the University of Nairobi and they
are blessed with six children.
Political Background
The Deputy President has previously served in various ministerial
positions including the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Higher
Education. He was Secretary General of KANU, the former ruling party,
and MP for Eldoret North Constituency between December 1997 and
January 2013.
He joined mainstream politics in 1997 when he was elected
Member of Parliament for Eldoret North constituency on the Kenya
African National Union (KANU) ticket. Before then, he had successfully
contested various party branch positions
Hon Ruto established himself as an astute politician and rose
rapidly within the party becoming its secretary general in 2005. He was
appointed Home Affairs Assistant Minister in 2002 and re-elected into
Parliament in the General Election later the same year. Hon. Ruto was a
key component of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s first presidential campaign
in that election. However, Mr. Kenyatta lost to Mwai Kibaki of the National
Rainbow Coalition, NARC. Mr. Ruto stood by Mr. Kenyatta’s side as he
conceded defeat and congratulated the President-elect, becoming the
first presidential contender to do so.
He also served as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select
Committee on Constitutional Reform in the 9th Parliament and led the
process of assembling the team and setting up the structures that
put Kenya on the road to a new constitution.
In January 2006, Mr. Ruto declared he would join the 2007
presidential race, but he lost in the party’s nominations. He was
appointed Minister for Agriculture in the Coalition Government that
was formed, where he served for three years. His tenure at the
Ministry of Agriculture stands out and his achievements are billed as
the modern yardstick of performance politics in Kenya.
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