Embu mum: How 'President Ruto' changed my life for good

Alex Ruto with his mother Faith Karimi (LEFT) and grandmother Grace Wambui.

A young man named after President William Ruto has changed the fortunes of his humble village in Embu County. Alex Ruto, now a teenager, is a source of joy not only to his family but also to the community living in Kithimu area.

Having a child bearing a Kalenjin name in Embu where kids are ordinarily named after their grandparents, is unheard of. Master Ruto acquired his name in 2018 after Ruto then Minister of Agriculture went to Embu to distribute free maize seeds and fertilizer.

Ruto's mother, Faith Karimi was expectant and unsure of how she would bring up a third child yet she was jobless. After getting wind of Ruto's visit, she turned up for the event which was presided over by the then agriculture Assistant Minister Kareke Mbiuki.

"I was given two packets of 2kg maize seeds and a 50kg bag of fertilizer. I immediately fell in love with Mr Ruto and vowed that should I give birth to a baby boy, I would name him after him," she says.

Her mother Grace Wambui recalls that the inputs were distributed following drought and the family had gone without food for three days hence the excitement. As Karimi's pregnancy grew, her love for minister Ruto intensified and she would look forward to watching him on TV.

And when Ruto's case at the ICC commenced, Karimi and Wambui would hold long sessions of prayers for his case to be dropped. Coincidentally, she gave birth shortly before the maize harvest and never lacked money to provide for her son.

"I had grown maize on an acre piece of land I rented after getting the inputs. I harvested eight bags of dry maize and I was grateful because it would see me plant in subsequent seasons as well as meet my needs," she told The Nairobian.

Interestingly, Baby Ruto was instantly accepted by the family and the community despite his name sounding strange to the villagers who were used to the local names.
Master Ruto, who strangely shares same complexion with the President Ruto is now accustomed to greetings from the villagers.

"Even police officers from Rift Valley who are posted here visit to see Ruto and offer some freebies. He's also a favourite to teachers," says Karimi.

Karimi admits that she has never met the president in person, but her family are asking him to visit some day and meet his namesake from Embu.