Timeline: William Ruto's political journey

Deputy President William Ruto gives his speech during Kenya Kwanza rally at Nyayo national stadium on August 6, 2022. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

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

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