Rachel Ruto's rise from village girl to First Lady

Rachel is the fifth-born child, and her family says they never imagined she would grow up to be at the heart of the country's seat of power.

She was born 53 years ago in Likuyani, Kakamega County, before her family moved to Uasin Gishu County where her path crossed with Ruto's. Her kin say she is a selfless person who gave up her teaching career to support her husband as he pursued politics.

On Monday, when the Supreme Court upheld Ruto's win, Rachel said: "Congratulations, Bill my love. God has done it. I am proud of you! May he give you the grace and wisdom to lead Kenya into greatness! You were born and destined for this!"

The love between Ruto and Rachel was brewed in Kamagut village. Lydia played a big role because her little sister was 'difficult, almost unapproachable'.

Their father, Samuel Kimetto, had bought land in Likuyani in 1966 after many years of living and working on a white settler's farm in Kabenes. In 1985, the family relocated to Sugoi where Ruto was born and lived. Sugoi is less than five kilometres from Kamagut.

Lydia got married in 1981. After relocating, her husband, Ezra Kiplagat Musee befriended Ruto after they met several times at the nearby Kapkong African Inland Church.

Rachel had just finished school at Butere Girls and when she visited Lydia, she would accompany her and Ezra to church, which Ruto also attended without fail.

"Rachel was not a girl anyone would just approach. She was tough and never entertained nonsense," said Lydia.

Rachel and William Ruto. [DPPS]

When Ruto appeared to have been sidelined in government following the handshake between President Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga, Rachel was concerned, Lydia said.

Mr Kimetto, who is 87, lives with his second wife, Magdalene Rugut, near Uganda Road in Sugoi. He keeps himself busy by farming on his 40 acres. Rachel, he said, never missed Sunday School.

"She loved education. Those days, girls would be married at young ages but Rachel chose to pursue education. After her education at Butere Girls, she came and told me she would be joining university. I didn't know what university meant," Mr Kimetto said.

After her graduation, having earned a degree in Education, Rachael was posted to a school in Marakwet.

"I raised and educated my children by hawking maize and transporting farm produce from Soi to Eldoret using a bicycle," said Kimetto, adding that he married Magdalene three years after his first wife passed away.

"I am slightly younger than Rachel but that has never been an issue. We accepted each other and we have been family," Magdalene said. "During our wedding in October 2005, it was Rachel who drove the bride's car as her father waited at the church to receive me."