The Day DP Ruto Was Arrested

Deputy President William Ruto's political career has tremendously grown since he joined the political scene through the famous Youth for KANU '92 (YK'92) group.

He has risen from just a youth leader to a Member of Parliament, Minister and is now the second most powerful politician in the country by the virtue of his office.

However, the journey to the top hasn't been smooth and he has faced several hurdles especially when he was in the Opposition during former President Mwai Kibaki's administration.

Despite being one of the closest friends of former Head of State Daniel Moi, he was once arrested and interrogated by police

[caption caption="Former President Daniel Moi and Deputy President William Ruto"][/caption]

Ruto was apprehended in June 1993 alongside Mr Micah Kigen and one Mr Rono.

The three were reportedly detained as a way of intimidating them for their massively growing popularity among the KANU members which was seen as a threat to the Moi Presidency.

“Moi worried that we had become a law unto ourselves,” Mr Kigen disclosed to Nation.

Their imprisonment followed the disbandment of the YK‘92 strategy group, which they had joined 10 days after its formation.

The brigade which was formed to help Moi win Presidency in 1992, did not deliver enough votes hence the disbandment of the team.

According to Mr Kigen, Cyrus Jirongo who was the YK‘92 leader, was the main target of Moi's strategies but he wasn't detained with them.

However, his offices at Nairobi’s Anniversary Towers were raided and documents carted away soon after Mr Moi suspended the group.

[caption caption="Youth for Kanu ‘92 Chairman Cyrus Jirongo with President Moi before the 1992 General Election. "][/caption]

Mr Kigen disclosed: "I was taken to Central Police Station (in Nairobi) and told to record a statement disowning Jirongo. They said it was a directive from State House, I declined. Then they brought a document purportedly signed by Jirongo, Kenneth Matiba (opposition leader) and Yoweri Museveni (Ugandan President) in Tigoni on how they planned to overthrow the government."

He was released three days later, together with DP Ruto, without being charged.

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