What is the net worth of the self styled hustler William Ruto? This is a question that we can only attempt to answer given the secrecy surrounding what the deputy president owns and how he acquired his immense wealth.
The oft repeated story of how the DP sold indigenous chicken on the Great North Road; and how he ascended to his current position has been his-and his loyal stalwarts- rallying point during political campaigns and whenever he feels like the ‘royal families’ (in reference to the Kenyattas’and the Moi family) want him of the 2022 presidential equation.
However, it goes without saying that the DP is a man of means if the binge buying associated with him is anything to go by. For a man who earns Kes1.4 million per month and gives atleast a minimum of kes2,000,000 donations to a single church-he can attend upto three fundraisers in a day-it tells you a lot about the kind of money he has.
According to venasnews.co.ke, Ruto’s net worth is in the neighborhood of Kes30 billion-this in all honesty is conservative. Ruto was propelled to active politics when he was incorporated into the Youth for KANU 92 (YK92) as the organizing secretary, an outfit whose aim was to clip the opposition ahead of the first multiparty election.
Former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo was the face of the outfit that was composed of political activists and young businessmen who were known to the then President Daniel arap Moi’s sons. William Ruto was an outcast in this group.
Macharia Gaitho in his piece titled ‘How ‘hustler’ Ruto broke into exclusive club to launch career’ gives a vivid picture of Ruto during the 90s when he was at YK 92 secretariat. He describes the lost ‘hustler’:
While the rest were already rising businessmen with good political links and well-versed on the Nairobi Yuppy scene, Mr Ruto was a callow, out-of-pocket fellow not far removed from the village. He had just completed his Bachelors degree at the University of Nairobi, and was struggling to make headway with his Masters degree programme which was proving challenging with all the distraction of politics.
He was an outcast in a clique made of free souls
Mr Jirongo was fronting what was supposed to be an elitist group composed of suave young businessmen and political activists with close ties to then President Daniel arap Moi’s sons
He goes on to write:
The Christian Union student and teetotaller could hardly fit in with the hard-drinking, hard-driving Jirongo crowd, who in their conversations over riotous drinking sessions would dismiss him as the broke fellow with threadbare suits aspiring to operate in their circles.
The man who wore his first pair of shoes when he was joining Wareng High School has gone full circle to become one of the most influential and powerful leaders in Kenya.
He was elected as Eldoret North constituency MP where he served between 1997-2013. Ruto was appointed in various dockets including the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Higher Education.
The self proclaimed hustler has found himself in a number of scandals. Land grabbing allegations have almost been synonymous with the DP-that’s where the derogatory nickname ole mashamba was derived.
His scandals aside, we will try to estimate Ruto’s net worth and the properties he owns.
Weston Hotel
His entry to the hospitality industry was a muted affair until the Langata Primary school land saga happened. The furor that followed the attempted grabbing of the school playground and subsequent teargassing of pupils by ill trained police officers opened the lid on who was the owner of Weston Hotel. It was alleged that the playground was to be converted to a parking lot for the hotel guests. The 120 room four star hotel is located opposite Wilson Airport.
680 Hotel
Ruto’s appetite for acquiring properties is seemingly unquenchable, if reports on social media platforms are to be believed. Ruto is said to have bought the hotel standing at the heart of the capital for a cool kes3 billion. The new tenant reportedly orchestrated the demolition of Simmers restaurants to rid the area of women of the night and the loud noise as he works on upgrading the 680 hotel.
The DP knows the importance of a friendly media as he heads to the 2022 presidential election. While it is four years away, Kenyans are consumed with politics; they eat, drink and dream politics. Ruto reportedly has 60 percent shares in the company. Its through Ruto that the media company launched Emos- a Kalenjin radio station. Plans are underway to have a Kalenjin TV station under Media Max.
Owns Company That Supplies Concrete Poles To Kenya Power
Ruto is said to be the sole supplier of concrete poles that are being used in the Last Mile Project. This poles will replace all wooden posts across the country.
Amaco Insurance
The chicken seller turned second most powerful man in Kenya is a major shareholder in the Africa Merchants Assurance Company (Amaco). According to a report appearing on KenyaToday, AMACO won the tender to insure all government vehicles.
Oseng Properties
Ruto co-owns Oseng properties with Mr Paul Ruto.
Oterter Enterprises Ltd
Co-owned with Mr Jignesh Desai
Uasin Gishu Home-Estimated at Sh1.2 billion
The Star newspaper carried a story early deputy president William Ruto house under construction at Moiben in Uasin Gishu. According to the daily, the house would gulp sh1.2 million once completed. The house will have two lakes, private airstrip, swimming pool, gyms and the trappings of rich folks.
Choppers-Fleet estimated at Kes 2.5 billion
His fleet of helicopters just keeps expanding as he prepares to take a stab at the presidency in the next presidential elections. Ruto has two Eurocopter AS350B3e (registration 5Y DSM and 5Y DSN) estimated at $2.4 Million each (kes240 million) , a Eurocopter EC130B4 (5Y DSC) at US$ 3.3 million (kes 330 million)and Douglas DC-9 goes for US$5.2 million-Kes520 million (registration 5Y-SAX). What, however, has got Kenyans talking is the acquisition of Airbus Helicopter H145 by the DP. The helicopter goes for over kes1 billion.
Poultry Business at Turbo home estimated at Ksh. 750 Million
In 2016, William Ruto contributed a staggering 18 million in 6 schools in less than 48 hours. These harambees came under sharp criticism from the opposition who questioned the source of the DP’s finances.
William Ruto net worth
While it is almost impossible to put an exact figure on how much the DP is worth, rough estimates can be anywhere in the neighborhood of sh30 billion.
Have we left anything out? Hit the comment section if you think so and we will update accordingly.
