Happy Birthday Mr. President
On 21st December 1966 a toddler was born. Not in a major town somewhere in Bethlehem. But to poor peasants in Sugoi in the heart of Wareng County Council.
This boy, like Jesus Christ, rose to the coveted position of the King of Wareng, known only by legends.
For starters, Uasin Gishu County, was initially called the County Council of Wareng.
It is here that the future President of Kenya, William Samoei Ruto, was born. In Sugoi to be precise.
And from ground zero, from humble beginnings, the future President weathered the physical storms and winds of Eldoret, walked to school barefoot, and worked for whatever he is today from scratch.
The 7-4-2-3 education system was vicious. Not many students made it to national schools. But the few who worked hard and scored a Division 1 enrolled for A Levels in better schools.
That’s the route Ruto followed from Wareng Secondary School to Kapsabet Boys High School and onward to the University of Nairobi, Chiromo campus.
President Ruto loves to speak about political maths. Chemically, because he is a scientist, and maths is a critical cog in that discipline.
Fast forward to politics. President Ruto is celebrating his birthday as his first boss, Cyrus Jirongo, lies in the morgue following a deadly road accident.
Jirongo was conferred the benefit of being Ruto’s boss by President Moi. Not because he was a better leader than Ruto, but for tribal balancing.
Moi, the political professor, was targeting the Luhya vote, then controlled by Masinde Muliro and Martin Shikuku.
He settled on Jirongo for optics, but privately gave Ruto, Sam Nyamweya, and lawyer Evans Ondieki lots of power and resources to countermand Jirongo.
Ruto lived each day at a time. He used the proceeds of YK 92 to establish a business empire as his friends imbibed fine whisky and vintage wine at Wine Bar in Kenya Cinema, Jockeys Club at the Hilton, Angus Steak House at Uchumi House, and members’ clubs such as Kitale Club.
Ruto is a known teetotaller who detests alcohol. According to a former Western Kenya MP and close friend, he detests alcohol.
So he spent his sober time between 1995 and 1997 strategising on how to defeat Reuben Chesire and occupy the Eldoret North seat.
Chesire was Moi’s nephew and brother to Zipporah Kittony, the powerful KANU-era Maendeleo ya Wanawake leader.
