NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto has revealed that the late President Daniel arap Moi once trusted him so deeply during his early political career that he granted him a direct telephone line to State House—a privilege he said was reserved for only a select few in the KANU administration.
Speaking at State House on Monday during the launch of retired Cabinet minister Major (Rtd) Marsden Madoka’s memoir, “At The Ready,” President Ruto offered a rare glimpse into his political journey and relationship with Kenya’s second Head of State.
“I became the only Assistant Minister with a hotline to the President,” Ruto disclosed, drawing laughter and admiration from the audience.
“That phone had no secretaries; if it rang, you knew it was the President himself calling. He would say, ‘Where are you? Come and do this and that.’”
The President narrated how his early days in politics were marked by turbulence, describing a period when he fell out of favor with KANU’s top leadership despite being part of the ruling party.
“When I first ran for Parliament, I was not in very good books with the KANU government,” he recalled.
“Moi himself came to Eldoret and told people to elect those who were known, mentioning the names of my rivals. Then he said there were some ‘characters running around’ whom he didn’t know. I was in that crowd.”
Undeterred by Moi’s public disapproval, Ruto said he pushed forward with his campaign and eventually triumphed. “I ran anyway and won the nominations against the odds,” he said.
Ruto also reflected on his reputation as an outspoken legislator during his early parliamentary years.
“Moi used to say this young man is noisy, but he speaks sense,” he quipped, recalling how his assertive political style earned him both criticism and respect.
The President credited Bishop Ezekiel Yego of the Africa Inland Church (AIC) and several elders for mediating peace between him and Moi after their initial differences.
“They told me, ‘Moi is like your father, and you are a Christian, show respect.’ They cornered me, and I had to tone down,” he said amid laughter.
Ruto also shared lighthearted memories of working under Major Madoka when he served as Assistant Minister, revealing their humorous exchanges about State House routines.
“Marsden didn’t go for lunch; he preferred to nap in his office,” Ruto joked. “He even tried to convince me to join him, but I failed.”
Reflecting on the lessons learned from his mentors, Ruto lauded both Moi and Madoka for shaping his approach to leadership.
“Madoka was my boss and mentor. He taught me discipline, patience, and respect. Moi, too, showed me that leadership is not about where you come from but how you serve,” he said.
He further praised Madoka’s memoir as an essential chronicle of Kenya’s political evolution: “At The Ready is a reflection of a generation that served with humility and selflessness. Through his story, future generations will understand where we came from and the sacrifices that built this nation.”
Closing his remarks, Ruto challenged today’s leaders to uphold integrity and excellence in public service.
“We cannot continue to make peace with mediocrity,” he said. “We must raise the bar and move from the ordinary to the extraordinary.”
