William Ruto
A self-styled 'hustler' from a humble background who climbed Kenya's political ladder to become president, championing a bottom-up economic model.
Born 1966 (age 60)·President of Kenya since 2022·Birthday: December 21·Generation X
Biography
William Ruto's story is central to modern Kenya's political mythology: a boy who sold chickens by the roadside who now occupies State House. His rise was fueled by a combination of sharp political instincts, a formidable grassroots network, and a reputation as a tenacious fighter. Initially a key ally of former President Mwai Kibaki, Ruto later forged a powerful, if unlikely, alliance with his former rival Raila Odinga to secure the presidency in 2022, after a previous election loss. His tenure has been defined by an ambitious, and often contentious, push to redefine Kenya's economic priorities under the banner of 'Bottom-Up Transformation.' This agenda focuses on taxing the wealthy to fund subsidies for farmers and small traders, a direct reflection of his own narrative. Ruto has also positioned Kenya as a vocal leader on the African continent and in global climate discussions, even as he grapples with domestic pressures over the high cost of living and demands for constitutional reform.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
William was born in 1966, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When William Was Born
The biggest hits of 1966
#1 Movie
The Bible: In the Beginning
Best Picture
A Man for All Seasons
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
William's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1966Born
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1971Started school
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1979Became a teenager
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Could drive
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1984Could vote
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Turned 21
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1996Turned 30
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 40
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 50
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 60
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Elected as the fifth President of Kenya in 2022 after a protracted electoral dispute.
- Served as Kenya's first directly elected Deputy President from 2013 to 2022 under President Uhuru Kenyatta.
- Launched the Hustler Fund, a digital financial inclusion initiative aimed at providing credit to micro-entrepreneurs.
- Hosted the inaugural Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi in 2023, pushing for global financial reforms for the continent.
Did You Know?
He holds a PhD in Plant Ecology from the University of Nairobi, with his thesis focusing on plant diversity.
Ruto is a devout Christian and often references his faith in his speeches.
Before politics, he was a teacher and also bred and sold chickens to fund his education.
He faced charges at the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity related to the 2007-08 post-election violence; the case was later vacated due to insufficient evidence.
“We are looking at a future where the son of a peasant, the son of a person who is selling peanuts, can become the president of Kenya.”
