William Ruto

William Samoei Ruto is a Kenyan politician who took office as President of Kenya on 13 September 2022, after defeating Raila Odinga in the August 2022 general election. The Supreme Court of Kenya unanimously upheld his victory on 5 September 2022, dismissing Odinga's petition.

Ruto previously served as Deputy President under Uhuru Kenyatta from 2013 to 2022, a partnership that fractured publicly in Kenyatta's second term when Kenyatta aligned with Odinga through the "Handshake" and BBI process. Ruto responded by rebranding himself as a "hustler" representing ordinary Kenyans against political "dynasties," and founded the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) as his vehicle for the 2022 race.

Earlier in his career, Ruto served as a Member of Parliament for Eldoret North and held cabinet portfolios including Agriculture and Higher Education. He was charged by the International Criminal Court in connection with the 2007–2008 post-election violence; the case against him was terminated in April 2016 when ICC Trial Chamber V(A) vacated the charges without prejudice, citing witness interference and a troubled political environment.

As president, Ruto's agenda has centered on his "Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda," the Hustler Fund credit scheme, removal of fuel subsidies, and the contested Finance Act 2023 and proposed Finance Bill 2024 — the latter withdrawn in June 2024 after mass Gen Z–led protests that breached parliament. Internationally, he has positioned Kenya as a climate diplomacy hub (hosting the inaugural Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, September 2023) and committed Kenyan police to lead a UN-authorized Multinational Security Support Mission to Haiti, deployed from June 2024. He is an evangelical Christian and a member of the Kalenjin community.