Farouk Teigut Kibet is the top aide of Deputy President William Ruto. He has often been described as the go to guy if you want to meet and have a word with the DP whether at his Karen residence, his Harambee Annex office or elsewhere.
A report by the Standard on December 13, 2016, revealed that Farouk keeps a clear watch on interactions by the DP, identifying who is who, and plotting the next allegiances with the DP with other power brokers.
Those privy to his past life state that he used to roam in the streets of Eldoret town in the 1990s engaging KANU youth wingmen and advancing the agendas of the then President Daniel Arap Moi led party.
He was determined to popularise the party in Uasin Gishu and his home area of Turbo.
Background & Education
Farouk hails from Kapkechui village, Chepsaita, Turbo Constituency on the border of Uasin Gishu and Kakamega counties.
He is the son of Mzee Paul Teigut. Mzee passed away a few years ago and was laid to rest on November 15, 2018.
He is said to have attended Chepkemel Primary School. Details of his secondary school and college education however remains unknown.
The Standard, however, notes that he was a regular contributor in the mailbox of the defunct Kenya Times and The Standard newspapers. He is said to have been good friends with print journalists based in Eldoret.
His messages to the media house allegedly bore praise for then regional KANU politicians from the North Rift including Mark Too, Ezekiel Barngetuny, Philemon Chelagat and Reuben Chesire. He was in good terms with the legislators.
Career
Farouks has had most of his years serving in the political corridors, but for most part as a right hand man. He is described by many as an astute, firm and loyal man.
He was nominated to serve at the Wareng County Council as a councilor between 2003 to 1997.
“For the record, he served very well as a nominated councilor. He did nothing wrong, nothing wrong,” Paul Kiprop his former colleague at the County Council is quoted as saying.
Politics
From his days as a devout advocate in the Youth for KANU movement in the 1990s, he has always had an active hand in politics, supporting politicians who have made it to the national arena.
Currently, he is a trusted friend of the deputy president. A man that has stood by him through thick and thin. A true definition of honour.
His journey to the DP’s corner is a rather interesting one.
Isaac Maiyo, a long-time ally of the DP told the Standard in 2016, that the DP and Farouk were on opposite sides of the 1997 election campaigns in Eldoret North.
“In 1997 when the DP was coming into politics, he (Farouk) was against us. As a matter of fact, the DP didn’t like him because at some point – and in the rough of politics — he abused us. He could not come to terms with Ruto as a newcomer.
“As on-the-ground political activist, he didn’t care a thing and was shameless. We thought that to have him in the opposing camp would be risky. We talked to him and he crossed over to our side. He turned out to be a serious supporter of the DP and up to this moment, he has never turned his back on him,” Maiyo was quoted by the publication as saying.
Houses
The publication reported that he has a house on the Chepsaita hills.
“I don’t know much about him. We came here a few years ago and over that period, he often comes home in a chopper, lands at his father’s compound and crosses over. He does not spend much time here, whenever he comes,” Mariah Silvanus, a neighbour was quoted as saying by the Standard.
His neighbours describe him as a generous man who contributes whole heartedly to church building harambees and academic sponsorship fundraisers.
The publication further reported that he owns another house in Upper Elgon View, located a kilometre off the main Eldoret–Nakuru Road at Annex Area, right behind Moi University’s School of Law.
The house is said to stand out from others in the area like a fortress. It allegedly has an intimidating gate, brick wall with an electric fence.
Scandals
It was reported that Farouk was among the names mentioned by former International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has having a hand in the 2007 post election violence.
She accused him with storming the Eldoret Police Station in protest at the height of the violence. She further alleged that he was involved in tampering with witnesses in the case against DP Ruto.
He was also in the headlines for allegedly receiving money from a suspect in the National Youth Service (NYS) Ksh791 million scandal. He was, however, never summoned and questioned by the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee on the matter.
