With economic woes at home, President Ruto is pitching himself as a foreign policy player – from climate finance to reform of the African Union, Few expected William Ruto to devote much time to foreign policy when he claimed the presidency after narrowly defeating Raila Odinga in last August s elections. After running an insurgent campaign based on appealing to Kenya s hustlers – the country s millions of small businesspeople and traders – Ruto s aides knew that diplomacy was a weak link in their man s campaign. He entered State House last September with little support from regional neighbours or the wider international system and several western states made little attempt to conceal their disappointment at his win.