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President of the Republic of Kenya
President William Kipchirchir Samoei Arap Ruto.jpg
Incumbent
William Ruto
since 13 September 2022
Government of Kenya
Style
Residence State House
Seat Nairobi
Appointer Direct popular vote or via succession from deputy presidency
Term length Five years,
renewable once
Constituting instrument Constitution of Kenya (2010)
Precursor Governor-General of Kenya
Queen of Kenya
Inaugural holder Jomo Kenyatta
Formation 12 December 1964; 60 years ago (1964-12-12)
Deputy Deputy President of Kenya


The President of the Republic of Kenya (Swahili: Rais wa Jamhuri ya Kenya) is the main leader of Kenya. This person is both the head of state (the country's symbol) and the head of government (the one who runs the country day-to-day). The President also leads the government's executive branch and is the commander-in-chief of the Kenyan military. The current President is William Ruto, who started his term on 13 September 2022.

Kenya's Presidents: A Look Back

Kenya became a republic on 12 December 1964. That's when Jomo Kenyatta became Kenya's first President.

Since then, Kenya has had five Presidents. They are: Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki, Uhuru Kenyatta, and the current President, William Ruto. William Ruto became President on 13 September 2022. Daniel arap Moi served the longest, for 24 years.

How to Become President

To become President of Kenya, a person needs to meet certain requirements. These rules are written in the country's Constitution.

Who Can Be President?

Here are the main things a person needs to be:

  • They must be a Kenyan citizen from birth.
  • They must be able to be elected as a Member of Parliament.
  • They need to be chosen by a political party to run for President. They can also run as an independent candidate.
  • More than 2,000 voters from most of Kenya's 47 counties must support their nomination.

Someone cannot run for President if they are loyal to another country. They also cannot be working for the government in another public job. However, if the current President is running for a second term, this rule does not apply to them.

How Presidents Are Chosen

The President is chosen by people voting in a general election. This election happens every five years in August.

To win, a candidate must get:

  • More than half of all the votes cast in the election.
  • At least 25% of the votes in more than half of the 47 counties.

The official home of the President of Kenya is State House in Nairobi. The President's wife is known as the First Lady of Kenya.

How Long Does a President Serve?

A President can serve for two terms. Each term lasts five years. The term starts on the day the President is sworn into office.

What Does the President Do?

The President of Kenya has many important jobs. These roles are explained in the Constitution of Kenya.

The President is:

  • The country's head of state and head of government.
  • The person who uses the country's executive power. This means they lead the government.
  • The commander-in-chief of the Kenyan military.
  • The leader of the country's National Security Council.
  • A symbol of national unity for all Kenyans.

The President's responsibilities include:

  • Speaking to each new Parliament. They also report to Parliament about important national issues.
  • Choosing and appointing people to important government jobs. These include cabinet secretaries, the attorney-general, and ambassadors. Parliament must approve these choices.
  • Leading Cabinet meetings. They also make sure different government departments run smoothly.
  • Doing other executive tasks allowed by the Constitution.
  • Using the power of mercy. This means the President can forgive someone who has been found guilty of a crime.

While in office, the President has legal immunity. This means they cannot be sued or arrested for most things. However, this does not apply to serious crimes under international agreements that Kenya has signed.

Past Presidents of Kenya

Main article: List of heads of state of Kenya

The President's Special Flag

Like many other countries, the President of Kenya has a special flag. This flag shows their important role as the country's leader. Its design is usually based on the national flag. However, the President can make some small changes to its look.

This special flag is often seen in places connected to the President. You might see it at their offices or on their official car. It is also displayed during important national events, usually next to the national flag.

Here are the special flags used by Kenya's Presidents since the country became independent:

  • First presidential standard of Kenya

    First Presidential Standard of Kenya (1963–1970)

  • Kenya presidential standard JOMO KENYATTA

    Presidential Standard of Jomo Kenyatta (1963–1978)

  • Kenya presidential standard DANIEL ARAP MOI

    Presidential Standard of Daniel Arap Moi (1978–2002)

  • Kenya presidential standard MWAI KIBAKI

    Presidential Standard of Mwai Kibaki (2002–2013)

  • Kenya presidential standard UHURU KENYATTA

    Presidential Standard of Uhuru Kenyatta (2013–2022)

  • Kenya Presidential Standard

    Presidential Standard of William Ruto (2022–)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Jefes de Estado de Kenia para niños

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