William Ruto’s meteoric rise from the status of a chicken seller to Kenya’s 5th president is a source of optimism to several Kenyans. Meanwhile, the Azimio brigade is counting bitter losses in denial. The highly disputed victory came following a heated power struggle at the ballot and in the Supreme Court. And now, William Ruto family photos can no longer escape the limelight.
The Chief Hustler succeeded President Uhuru Kenyatta with as many votes as those cumulatively cast in favour of his three opponents. These are ODM leader Raila Odinga, George Wajackoyah of Roots Party, and David Waihiga Mwaure of Agano Party. Who is Ruto and where are his close relatives?
William Ruto Family History
Walking barefoot to Kerotet Primary School in the early 70s initiated Ruto’s destiny in the world of academics and politics.
He would soon defy the odds to join Wareng Secondary School for his O-level. Later on, Ruto from a poverty-stricken background enrolled at Kapsabet Boys for his A-level studies.
Family tree of President Ruto
Citizen Television recently covered a 38-year-old letter from Ruto’s high school years at Wareng. In the letter dated 1984, are rare details about his biological family members.
Jeff Koinange featured the letter in which the young Ruto had documented at least 20 family members including his father Mzee Daniel Cheruiyot, mother Sarah Cheruiyot, and a rarely photographed stepmom.
Brenda Wanga went on to confirm that Ruto’s father was a polygamous man with two wives, 9 sons, and 7 sisters. Also enlisted was his now deceased grandmother.
“In my family, there is a father, two wives, nine brothers and seven sisters and a grandmother, hence a family of 20 bodies,”
William Ruto, Letter from 1984.
The quoted letter was released by Wareng High School Principal Julius Kamatei. He has since confirmed that Ruto was an adept dreamer.
“I have even come across a letter which he wrote at the end of his O-Levels. I don’t know whether it was…it has no address.”
Julius Kamatei – Wareng High School Principal.
In the same letter, Ruto spoke about his strengths and weaknesses while studying at Wareng High School.
“In school, I enjoyed literature as my favourite subject, others are English, CRE, Mathematics and Geography. Despite of other subjects like Mathematics and Chemistry being hard, I have liked them so much… Literature has been my best subject and with the help of God, I hope to write at least a book in the future.”
William Ruto, Letter from 1984.
Apart from writing a wishful autobiography, Ruto has submitted several papers in his pinnacle of academia.
His excellence William Ruto has occasionally been seen alongside his mother Mama Sarah Cheruiyot but rarely in the company of his biological siblings.
Unfortunately, Ruto’s industrious father Mzee Daniel Cheruiyot passed away several years ago, leaving 6 children under the care of his spouse Sarah.
Enlisted below are his 4 brothers and 1 sister who have long been hiding behind the cameras.
1. Paul Maritim Cheruiyot
The simple living Paul Maritim Cheruiyot is an elder brother to his excellence, Dr William Ruto.
Maritim lives a simple life back in Ruto’s Sugoi ancestral village. Unconfirmed sources say that he is a middle-income earner who is unbothered by Ruto’s money and fortunes in national politics.
2. Samuel Ruto Cheruiyot
Mr Samuel Ruto is a familiar spokesman of the larger Cheruiyot family in which he is the third born.
Apart from speaking on behalf of Ruto’s family, he is a successful businessman with huge stakes in multi-million investments.
3. William sister Susan Samoei Ruto
Mrs Susan is the only daughter in President William Ruto’s family.
Like his brothers, Susan Samoei Ruto is a renowned business lady who prefers less publicity.
4. Harrison Kiptoo Ruto
Ruto’s sibling the late Harrison Kiptoo Ruto passed on in 2016.
His burial was highly decorated with powerful leaders from across the region.
5. William Ruto brother David Samoei Ruto
Cheruiyot’s last-born son David is a resident of the United States of America.
He is a respected businessman with a Masters’ Degree from Capella University, USA. He is lately working for a telecommunication company based in Irvine, California.
David is on record for confessing to excessive childhood poverty.
“We were poor. We (siblings) walked to school which was four kilometres away every day barefoot.”
Ruto’s brother David Cheruiyot.
Fresh wedding photos of David Samoei Ruto and his fiancée Carol Kitur are still in the air. The two travelled to Kenya for a traditional Kalenjin wedding “Koito.” David is a lover of nature and his partner Carol, music.
How many siblings does William Ruto have? There are 6 siblings in the celebrated Cheruiyot family.
1.
Paul Maritim
2.
Samuel Ruto
3.
Susan Samoei
4.
Harrison Kiptoo
5.
David Samoei Ruto
6
William Samoei Ruto
Childhood and rise to the presidency
President Ruto who joined Wareng High school in 1981, authored the letter in his final years. One of his former teachers has this to say.
“I was transferred immediately after taking William Ruto as Form One, when I came to see whether they had reported, I saw a small boy with very bright eyes, that picture has never left my eyes.”
Peter Waweru, former Principal Wareng High School.
Mr Waweru went on to praise Ruto for his outstanding record and clean reputation and the institution.
“His leadership skills were nurtured here, he was chairman of the Christian Union (CU), he was chairman of CU, he was a captain of the hostel, the dorm captain, he was a good player of volleyball. He was a student of very strong ill, he was a dreamer, dreaming big,”
Mr Waweru, former Principal Wareng High School.
The ambitious village boy eventually graduated from the University of Nairobi in 1990. He attained a Bachelor of Science in Botany and Zoology from UoN.
A year later, Ruto married his long-term sweetheart Rachel Ruto. His childhood dream of becoming an accomplished author has since changed to politics.
Looking back, Ruto is grateful to God for lifting him speedily from a roadside chicken seller to the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.
William Ruto family history contrasts sharply with that of his predecessors including Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel Arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki, and the recently retired Uhuru Kenyatta. He is indeed king of the Hustlers Movement.
I am a digital creative cum graduate Mechatronics Engineer from Dedan Kimathi University; with over a decade of experience in computer applications, networking, website design, graphic design, blogging, CAD, and robotics. Besides, I coach on-demand digital skills at Rejnac Masterclass.
