William Ruto is the first presidential candidate to hit the presidency in his first bid. He was able to defeat veteran politician and fifth-time contestant Raila Odinga.

His bid was made even tougher when his former boss, President Uhuru Kenyatta decided to support his main opponent Azimio la Kenya candidate Raila Odinga.

According to critics, his choice of a deputy governor has also contributed to his win. Rigathi Gachagua is a former lawmaker, the former personal assistant of Uhuru Kenyatta, and an influential Kikuyu leader. One of the largest tribal groups

By propagating the agenda of a hustler nation the president-elect was able to wage a class war between the haves and the have-nots. The 2022 August election has been a war between the dynasties and hustlers.

The president-elect and his Kenya Kwanza team painted Raila Odinga as a state project of a failed government.

Ruto's first stint in politics was in 1982 having been mentored by Daniel Arap Moi. He was part of KANU’S youth wing during the reign of Moi.

William Ruto has held ministerial positions in the Education and agriculture sector.

He became deputy president in 2013 in the Uhuru-Ruto government. The two formed an alliance in 2013 that saw them clinch the two topmost seats in the land.

At the time they were both facing charges at the International Criminal Court. Their partnership broke in 2018 when Mr.Kenyatta decided to support Raila Odinga instead of his deputy as his successor.

Ruto was born in Kamagut near Eldoret in the Rift Valley.

William Ruto sold chicken and groundnuts by the roadside before he ventured into politics

He is married to Rachel Ruto and together they have six children.

William Ruto is an industrious farmer; he has ventured into maize, poultry, and dairy farming.

He has also invested in real estate and the hospitality industry.

How William Ruto has accumulated his wealth is still a subject of speculation. He has been involved in graft scandals.

At age 31, Ruto became Eldoret North MP defeating a well-renowned politician known as Reuben Chesire.

From 1998-2002, he served as assistant minister and as minister for home affairs.

In 2007, he co-founded ODM with Raila Odinga and was part of the top organ-the pentagon. William Ruto has been a minister for agriculture in the Kibaki-Raila coalition government.

In 2010-2011 he was appointed minister for higher education.

In 2012, he teamed up with Uhuru Kenyatta to form the Jubilee government becoming Kenya’s first elected deputy president  under the new constitution

While still active in politics, William Ruto climbed the academic ladder. He holds a Doctorate in Plant Ecology from the University of Nairobi.