William Kipchirchir Samoei Arap Ruto (born 21 December 1966) is a Kenyan politician who is serving as the fifth and current president of Kenya since 13 September 2022. Prior to becoming president, he served as the first deputy president of Kenya from 2013 to 2022. Previously, holders of the position were referred to as Vice President.William Ruto is the first Kenyan to win the Presidential elections on a first attempt. He previously served in several cabinet portfolio such as the Minister for Home Affairs, the Minister of Agriculture and as Minister for Higher Education. Ruto was elected Member of Parliament for Eldoret North constituency from 1997 to 2007, under the KANU and 2007 to 2013 through ODM party. He was the Minister for Home Affairs in the Daniel arap Moi administration from August to December 2002. Under the Mwai Kibaki administration, he was the Minister for Agriculture from 2008 to 2010 and Minister for Higher Education from April to October 2010. Ruto ran for the deputy presidency in the 2013 election under the United Republican Party, becoming the running mate of Uhuru Kenyatta from The National Alliance (TNA). He was re-elected to the deputy presidency under the Jubilee Party in the 2017 Kenyan general election. Ruto successfully ran for the presidency in the 2022 election, this time under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA). Amidst a fall out, Kenyatta supported opponent Raila Odinga. The election was marred by allegations of electoral fraud by allies of Odinga, although international observers have not corroborated such claims. Early Life and Education A member of the Kalenjin people of the Rift Valley Province, William Ruto was born on 21 December 1966 in Sambut village, Kamagut, Uasin Gishu County, to Daniel Cheruiyot and Sarah Cheruiyot. Education Ruto first studied at Kamagut Primary School, then transferred to Kerotet Primary School within Uasin Gishu County, where he sat for his Certificate of Primary Education (CPE). He then proceeded to Wareng Secondary School still in Uasin Gishu County and Kapsabet High School in Nandi County, where he obtained his Ordinary Level and Advanced Level education respectively. He then enrolled at the University of Nairobi to study botany and zoology, graduating in 1990 with a bachelor of science in both fields. He went on to complete a masters program in plant ecology also from the University of Nairobi. The following year after his graduation, he enrolled for a Ph.D. at