We all recognize President William Ruto as the fifth President of the Republic of Kenya and as the first elected Deputy President of Kenya.
Before reaching these high offices, he served as the Minister of Home Affairs, Agriculture, and later as the Minister of Higher Education, all while representing Eldoret North as a Member of Parliament from 1997 to 2013. For much of his adult life, Ruto has been dedicated to public service, eventually attaining the highest position in the land. However, not many know what Ruto’s life could have been like if he had not pursued a career in government. Many might assume he would have been a distinguished farmer, something he has always been passionate about.
However, Ruto has revealed that his true career aspiration was in science. He studied Botany and Zoology at the University of Nairobi, graduating in 1990. During the unveiling of the Gedi National Monument as Kenya’s 8th UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ruto shared what might have been his path had he followed his academic interests. Speaking at the event at the National Museums of Kenya (NMK), Ruto disclosed that he would likely have become a scientist, which amused the audience.
“Many of you may not know this, but I spent three years of my university life in the same class as the Director General of the National Museums of Kenya, Professor Mary Gikungu. If I were not in politics now, I might have been working somewhere in this building,” Ruto said. “Many of my classmates ended up in scientific research institutions like NMK, KEMRI (Kenya Medical Research Institute), and others. I feel truly privileged to be here today. I reminded Mary that we came here for lessons on human evolution, and it was Dr. Richard Leakey who guided us through that fascinating subject,” he added.
Acknowledging the financial struggles faced by scientists in Kenya, Ruto also hinted at a possible return to the scientific field after his presidential term.
“I agree that we do not adequately compensate our scientists. Many of them are in the Public Service, and we need to reassess their terms of service and salaries. As the Director General has requested, I will ask the Head of Public Service to form a team to evaluate the situation and align scientists’ remuneration with that of their regional counterparts,” Ruto stated.
“I’m not doing this because I may benefit personally. Perhaps, after my presidency, I might return to my scientific pursuits here at NMK or elsewhere,” he added.