The deputy president William Kipchirchir Samoei Ruto is inspiring many youths. He rose from a life of poverty and misfortunes to become the second man in charge of the country. The self styled 'hustler' is known for his sheer hardwork and aggression that drove him from little village, Kamagut in Uasin Gishu county, to a national figure.
Abraham Mutwol, a motivational speaker and an author of the book, 'The great Inspiring life lesson from William Ruto' narrates how Ruto rose from abject poverty to the pinnacle of national politics.
Born in 1966, he grew in poverty running almost 10,kilometers daily to Sambut Primary school. He later attended Wareng and Kapsabet boys for secondary education where he was the Christian Union chairperson and a Dining Hall captain.
During holidays he sold chicken and peanuts along Eldoret- Malaba highways to supplement family income and as well raise school fees.
After graduating from University of Nairobi in 1990 with a degree in Botany and Zoology, he taught at Sirgoi and Kamagut secondary schools. It was during this time that he met his spouse Rachel Ruto.
On a certain function attended by the former President Moi, he said a moving prayer that caught the attention of the president. That is when his fortune began.
At 26, he become an organising secretary of KANU 92 where he drum support for President Moi in tjw first multi party general election which the incumbent won against the tough opposition.
Ruto plunged into politics in 1997 and won Eldoret North Parliamentary seat. In 2002, he supported Kenyatta for presidency under KANU ticket but lost to Mwai Kibaki.
In 2005, he campaign against constitutional referendum and defeated. That's when Orange Democratic Movement began.
In 2006, he announced that he will be vying for presidency under ODM party but later supported Raila Odinga in a heavily contested results in which it sparked post election violence. After the elections, he served in Agriculture and later in Higher Education ministry.
In 2013, he team up with Uhuru Kenyatta to form Jubilee Alliance which steer them to power. He become the first deputy president under the new constitution.
In 2017, they were re-elected to power under Jubilee Party maintaining the deputy president's position.