NAIROBI, Kenya — During his five-hour livestream from Kenya, American YouTube star iShowSpeed (Darren Jason Watkins Jr.) sparked curiosity among his millions of viewers when he asked, “Who is Ruto?”
The question came as part of the Kenyan stop of his “Speed Does Africa” tour.
Ruto’s name had appeared in the livestream comment section, prompting the YouTuber to ask about the Kenyan President, seemingly unaware of his identity.
Before the question, President William Ruto had recorded a short video welcoming iShowSpeed to Kenya.
From Humble Roots to State House
William Ruto was born on December 21, 1966, in Kembu–Sugoi, Uasin Gishu County, in Kenya’s Rift Valley.
He attended the University of Nairobi, earning degrees in botany, zoology, and ecology.
His journey from a modest upbringing to national leadership is widely recognized as a classic political rise in Kenya.
Ruto entered formal politics in the 1990s, initially joining the KANU party.
He was first elected Member of Parliament for Eldoret North in 1997, a seat he held for multiple terms before ascending to senior government roles.
Government Roles
Over nearly three decades, Ruto has held several high-level positions:
- Minister for Home Affairs
- Minister for Agriculture
- Minister of Higher Education
- Deputy President of Kenya (2013–2022) under President Uhuru Kenyatta, becoming the first deputy elected for two consecutive terms.
Presidency and Political Approach
In the 2022 general election, Ruto ran on the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket, part of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance. He won with approximately 50.49% of the vote, defeating Raila Odinga, and was inaugurated as Kenya’s fifth president on September 13, 2022.
As president, Ruto promotes a “bottom-up economic model”, aimed at empowering small businesses, farmers, and grassroots workers, focusing on inclusive economic development.