William Ruto is a Kenyan politician who holds an estimated net worth of $169 million. After years as a Member of Parliament, Cabinet Minister, and Deputy President, Ruto won the Kenyan presidency in 2022 as leader of the

What is William Ruto’s Net Worth?

United Democratic Alliance. He had supported other presidential candidates in earlier years, serving as Deputy President under Uhuru Kenyatta after their election victories in 2013 and 2017.

Early Life and Education

William Ruto was born on January 21, 1967, in Kamagut, Kenya, to Sarah and Daniel Cheruiyot. Ruto’s family comes from the indigenous Kalenjin people of Rift Valley Province. As a young man, Ruto studied at Kamagut Primary School, Kerotet Primary School, Wareng Secondary School, and Kapsabet High School for primary and secondary education. For higher studies, he entered the University of Nairobi, from which he graduated in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Ruto eventually received both MS and PhD degrees from the same university.

Career Beginnings

Following his graduation in 1990, Ruto became a teacher in the Kenyan North Rift region and for some years taught in a local secondary school. He also served as the leader of the local church choir. In 1992, Ruto entered Kenyan national politics when he became the treasurer of the Youth for Kanu ’92 lobby group that supported the reelection of President Moi.

Member of Parliament

In 1997, Ruto was elected to parliament representing the Eldoret North constituency. He won in a surprise victory over incumbent Reuben Chesire. Ruto served as a Member of Parliament under the Kenya African National Union from 1997 to 2007 and then under the Orange Democratic Movement from 2007 to 2013. Ruto also served as KANU secretary general from 2005 to 2007.

Cabinet Positions

Ruto was appointed to the first Cabinet position in 2002, serving as Minister for Home Affairs under President Moi. Later, after the contentious 2007 presidential election and during the resulting violent crisis, Ruto was named Minister for Agriculture in the grand coalition Cabinet created under President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga. He remained in this position until 2010 when he was appointed Minister for Higher Education.

Failed Presidential Campaigns

Under the Orange Democratic Movement, Ruto first sought the presidency during the 2007 general election. He came third in the nomination, behind Musalia Mudavadi and winner Raila Odinga. Ruto sought the presidency again in the 2013 election, but stepped down to support the candidacy of Uhuru Kenyatta.

Deputy President In 2013, Ruto became the deputy president of Kenya under President Kenyatta. The following year, in October, he was named acting president while Kenyatta was at The Hague to appear before the ICC. Ruto was re-elected deputy president in 2017 under the Jubilee Party. This is a position he held until he was elected president in 2022. President of Kenya In late 2020, Ruto joined the newly created United Democratic Alliance, of which he became the head. He represented the party in the presidency during the 2022 general election and won. Since he assumed office, Ruto has focused on such areas as green energy, financial inclusion, and increased investment in Africa. However, he has been controversial for certain policies and proposals, including his wish to raise taxes which

resulted in deadly Finance Bill protests in 2024. Amid the unrest, Ruto fired most of his Cabinet, and police chief Japhet Koome resigned. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images) Scandals Ruto has faced a number of scandals throughout his political career. Among them, a case of land grabbing saw him mysteriously acquire Weston Hotel land. Elsewhere, Ruto was charged with defrauding Kenya Pipeline Company through the questionable sale of land in Ngong Forest. He was acquitted. In 2013, Ruto faced charges of illegally seizing land during the post-election violence of 2007-08 and was ordered to pay recompense to a victim. In 2019, Ruto again found himself at the center of another land controversy over the mysterious acquisition of 900 acres belonging to the former Kenya vice president,

Joseph Murumbi. Ruto was one of six people summoned by the ICC in late 2010 over their role in the post-election violence in Kenya in 2007-08. He faced charges of murder, the forcible transfer of population, and persecution. However, the ICC dropped the case against him in 2016. Among his other scandals, Ruto was strongly linked to the 2016 assassination of wealthy businessman and outspoken government critic Jacob Juma. Various activists, politicians, and media figures have worked to corroborate that fact. Personal Life In 1991, Ruto married Rachel Chebet. They have seven children together, including PR person and philanthropist Charlene. Ruto is an evangelical Christian and is a member of the Africa Inland Church. He also owns a chicken farm in his home village of Sugoi.