06/10/2022
THE 'FORGOTTEN' FAMILY OF PRESIDENT WILLIAM RUTO IN BARINGO.
Many people have for decades been left with questions on who really is the father of Deputy President, William Ruto and where is he? The answer to above question is finally here.
In a sleepy village of Torotwo in Kesetan sub location of Sacho, Baringo central, sets base to larger Kapchepkendi family from Talai lineage of Mooi clan, where Mzee Cherutich Kimosop, father to Kenya's most famous politician hails from.
His two brothers were Cheruiyot Kimosop (firstborn), who lived in Kesetan and died in 1993, Chebet Kimosop (second born), who resided in Sigowo until his demise in 2014.
Ruto's father, Cherutich Kimosop of Sawe age set was the last born.
According to a brief information drafted by elders closely related to the old man, Cherutich was born to a Nandi man, Mzee Kipchumber at Kipsolian village of Tenges division in 1934, then after some years, they migrated to Kesetan.
He together with Kenyan second president, Daniel Arap Moi went to Kabartonjo mission school, where they used to be travelling by foot.
His village was just two kilometers away from that of Kuryengwo, where Moi was born.
Due to lack of school fees, he just went to school up to class four then dropped out.
It was at this period when colonialists realized Cherutich's intelligence that they employed him to work as secretary and tax collector at DCs office in Koibatek.
It is said he continued serving colonialists being single (unmarried) until one day when he almost swept away while crossing flooded Perkerra river but luckily survived the ordeal. He therefore resolved to abandon the work and fled to Nandi where his father came from.
There he stayed never coming back to Baringo until he married his first wife, Sarah Cheruiyot (Mother to William Ruto), while doing some casual jobs in an Indian firm.
They were blessed with three children, among them, Kipchirchir Ruto who was born in 1966 and is the current president elect of the republic of Kenya.
He is said to have travelled back to Baringo before 1970, to greet his brothers and family members back in Kesetan where he stayed until he married his second wife, Sote Cherutich, (Ruto's Co mother).
They were blessed with six children, four daughters and two sons.
Mzee Cherutich ventured into small scale agriculture where he cleared bushes for farming to feed his children.
According to Mzee Cheruiyot Chelugui (his brother) who spoke to Capital News, Cherutich often used to be talking of his family in Nandi, expressing worries on how he lacked means of transport, that he would have gone to see and even bring them to Baringo.
This is because he had become somehow old and his health deteriorated, that he was unable to travel by foot for longer distance anymore.
"Yiiiy! Mii lagokchuk chemii Nandi, obun ano wee bichu sawotoben werinyu, ne kikuren Kipchirchir, Yiiiy...!!",
(There are my other children in Nandi who I miss them so much, where can I get transport to go see them, especially Kipchirchir my son), he would scream in Kalenjin dialect as narrated by Mzee Chelugui.
The sentiments were backed by other elders and women and neighbours among them, Sote Eveline Kiprono, Kiptim Cherutich, Gladys Rotich, Kipkorir Komen, William Cheruiyot arap Chemitei, among others.
It is said, the trend continued year in, year out, and as Mzee Cherutich continued aging, he fell sick and died in 2009, without accomplishing the wish of uniting his Nandi and Baringo families.
He was buried at his homestead in Torotwo village, Kesetan where his grave rests, up to date.
In many occasions, William Ruto himself has been heard claiming some leaders tend to underrate him because nobody knows who his father is.
According to locals, it is believed, Ruto has had some little knowledge concerning his father's roots and when he once attended a women fundraiser at Sacho while he was then the minister for agriculture, he tried to inquire about a family called Kapchepkendi, which he had heard that, his father hailed from there but unfortunately, he was mislead when some people allegedly told him, 'that place is extremely far and inaccessible', he gave up.
That area still remains unknown to William Ruto up to today, despite hosting his father's remains, who sleeps in peace.
When media visited the little known family, Mama Sote Cherutich openly confessed that she is the Co-wife to Sarah Cheruiyot, Mother to President Ruto as she was told by Mzee Cherutich Kimosop (husband) before he died.
"I am really the second wife of Mzee Cherutich, his first wife is in Nandi but we don't know each other since we've never met. Before he passed on, he used to be telling me of another wife and children in Nandi", Sote narrated.
Peris Cherutich, Sote's eldrer daughter (Ruto's Sister) said they also grew up being told about the same story which she said it is true.
"We only wish to get a clear link so we can meet with the other family, know each other and the rest is history. We have a story to tell", Said Peris in sentiments echoed by immediate family member, Sammy Tarus.
Elders and family members said they have ever tried to find Ruto so as to tell their story but all have been fruitless due to his busy schedules.
"We don't have any bad feelings about William Ruto and the other family in Nandi and not that we are doing this now because he is the president, we have been trying for a long time without success, maybe because we've been using grude ways. We've now decided to go to the media, maybe God will use it to open the door. We would just wish we meet together and know each other so we can unite since we are one. We believe blessings shall trickle our way when that day comes. Our family and entire area shall never be the same again", they said.
They believe that, when Ruto will hear about the message, he will definitely consider meeting them so they can chat a way forward.
