William Samoei Ruto is the current President of Kenya, having assumed office on September 13, 2022. Prior to becoming president, he served as the Deputy President of Kenya from 2013 to 2022 under President Uhuru Kenyatta. Ruto is a prominent Kenyan politician and a member of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance, a political coalition that was formed ahead of the 2022 elections.
Ruto’s political career began in the 1990s, and he has held various positions in both government and political parties. He has been a member of the Kenyan Parliament since 1997, representing the Eldoret North constituency and later the larger Uasin Gishu County. He also served as Minister for Home Affairs, Minister for Agriculture, and Minister for Higher Education, Science, and Technology.
Ruto is known for his strong political base in the Rift Valley region, and his campaign for the presidency focused on issues like empowering ordinary Kenyans, job creation, and expanding economic opportunities. He has been a key figure in Kenyan politics, with a controversial and complex history that includes accusations of corruption and involvement in the 2007 post-election violence, though he was acquitted by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
His presidency marks a significant moment in Kenyan politics, following a highly contested election in 2022, where he faced Raila Odinga, his main rival. His political ideology is often centered around “hustler” empowerment, with an emphasis on lifting up individuals from lower economic classes to improve their socio-economic status.