Ruto began his political career by vying for various KANU (then Kenya's ruling party) branch party positions. Through his church activities, he met his future mentor, President Daniel Arap Moi and helped to found a lobby group Youth for Kanu '92. The group that was formed to drum up support for President Daniel arap Moi in the 1992 election. YK'92 was inspired by UK Labour Youth leaders and the youth wing of the Indian National Congress in its mobilization efforts for Moi's re-election. However, it became notorious for hooliganism, orchestrating ethnic violence and dishing out billions of Kenya Shillings in the campaign, claims that the group continues to refute. Ruto served as treasurer of YK'92 and learned the ropes of Kenyan politics there. He is also believed to have accumulated some wealth in this period.