This archive report was first published on 18 July 2019.
Deputy President William Ruto's close circles have a powerful figure behind the scenes: Farouk Kibet. Though not a common public figure, Kibet's influence was evident during the funeral of his father, Paul Teigut, on November 10, 2018.
On November 15, 2018, a convoy of high-end vehicles and a hearse transporting Teigut's body from Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) in Eldoret brought the town to a standstill as it snaked along Uganda Road towards Chepsaita in Turbo constituency.
At the mortuary, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, a close ally of Ruto, was seen embracing and coordinating with Farouk to ensure a smooth removal of the body ahead of the burial ceremony on November 16, 2018.
Top leaders in Jubilee, including Ruto, attended the funeral and reiterated their commitment to pushing for the passage of the Two-Thirds Gender Rule Bill in the National Assembly.
During the eulogy, Ruto praised Mzee Teigut as a dedicated father who raised his children uprightly, saying, "If it was not for the dedication of the deceased, people like Farouk could have lost focus and maybe swallowed by the drug abuse dragon."
