William Ruto's political journey
Explainers
By
Allan Mungai
| Aug 15, 2022
Born 21 December 1966
Holds Doctorate degree in Plant Ecology in 2018, UON
1992: Member Youth for KANU '92 (YK92)
1997: Elected Eldoret North MP through KANU
1998-2002: Assistant Minister, Office of the President, later Minister for Home Affairs and Director KANU elections
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2005: Elected KANU's Secretary-General
2006: Announces presidential bid ahead of 2007 election
2007: Ditches KANU, co-founds Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) with Raila Odinga, was a member of ODM's top organ - The Pentagon
2008-2010: Minister for Agriculture in the Kibaki-Raila coalition government
2009: Survives censure motion over maize scandal
2008-2009: Ruto falls out with Raila Odinga over ICC trials
-Local tribunal formed to investigate 2007/8 Post-Election Violence, PEV
-Ruto pushes for trials at the ICC, opposes Kibaki, Raila call for local trials
2010 - 2011: Appointed Minister for Higher Education
2010: Opposes new constitution which sails through in a referendum
-Raila suspends Ruto from the Agriculture docket, and Kibaki later reinstates him
-Ruto among six individuals named as being behind 2007/8 post-election violence
2012: Quits United Democratic Movement (UDM), launches United Democratic Party.
2012: Teams up with Uhuru Kenyatta to form Jubilee Alliance
2013: Becomes Kenya's first elected Deputy President
2013: Ruto trial at ICC in The Hague begins
October 2014: Becomes Acting President briefly while Uhuru attends ICC case in The Hague
-High Court orders Ruto to surrender a 100-acre farm and compensate a farmer who accused him of land grabbing.
2016: Ruto case at ICC collapses
2018: Graduates with PhD from the University of Nairobi
2018: Ruto fallout with Uhuru following Uhuru-Raila handshake and BBI
2019: Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) formed
-Ruto campaigns against BBI fronted by Uhuru and Raila
2021: United Democratic Alliance (UDA), associated with Ruto formally registered
March 16, 2022: Ruto officially declares intention to vie for the presidency, gets UDA endorsement