Speaking earlier last week during the launch of Marsden Madoka’s book at State House, Ruto reflected on his early political journey, revealing that he was seen as an underdog in the 1997 elections.
He explained that during his first run, he faced strong opposition from the KANU party, which was led by Moi. The former president openly advised voters to support candidates with well-known backgrounds and wealth.
“When I decided to run, I was not favored by KANU. I came from an unknown family, and people didn’t know me. There were senior party members with strong brands, and I was really the underdog,” Ruto recalled.
Ruto said he had to use familiar figures in his community, such as Paul Boit, a former County Council member, to help voters recognize him. Despite Moi’s public warnings, Ruto pushed forward with his campaign.
“Moi told people to vote for those they knew, like former MP Saina and other wealthy candidates. He even pointed out that he didn’t know my parents, yet asked voters to consider me because I had been nominated,” he said.
The President said he felt the comments were unfair and undermined his ability to lead simply because of his family background.
After winning the MP seat, Ruto said he continued speaking out in parliament, which caught Moi’s attention. At first, the late president saw him as “noisy,” but he later realized Ruto made sense in his arguments.
“After I had been elected, Moi started noticing that although I was noisy, I spoke sense. He even sent Bishop Yego and Hosea Kiplagat to talk to me, advising that I tone down my criticism and work closely with him,” Ruto explained.
Ruto’s persistence paid off, as he eventually earned Moi’s trust. About one and a half years after his election, Moi appointed him as Assistant Minister in the Office of the President, marking the start of his rise in national politics.
From being underestimated due to his “unknown” family background, Ruto gradually proved his leadership, eventually serving as a cabinet minister and now as President of Kenya.
Tags:
People