The Father of 3 sons, a daughter and a husband to Esther Cheruiyot, despite having retired from the Military, has continued to participate in various activities towards transforming the community.
He was recently installed as the President Rotary Club of Nakuru.
The position did not come as a surprise, as Retired Colonel Raymond Cheruiyot has continued to interact with various community members through water projects, Agriculture and other economic empowerment activities key in uplifting livelihoods at grassroot.
He is also managing several properties under his Properties Company within Nakuru City.
Besides, he has also served as a member of the Nakuru City Board, Director and Chair Nakuru Rural Water Services.
His passion for community work also saw him land into politics unsuccessfully contesting for Amalo Ward in Kuresoi South (2013) and Mosop Ward (2017,2022).
Born in 1956 at Kaplong (formerly in Kericho District) current Bomet County, Cheruiyot is an alumni of Kaplong Primary and Kaplong Secondary school.
He would later join Kenya Military as a cadet in 1978 where he rose from various ranks in the cadre of officers.
After 30 years serving in various positions of staff, training, command, leadership and management both within the country and out in two United Nations Peacekeeping Missions in Namibia and Sierra Leone, the officer retired at the rank of Colonel in 2008.
In earlier interview with this publication, the retired Colonel who now lives in Ogilgei village in Mosop Ward of Rongai Sub county in Nakuru County reveals that when the history of Lanet Barracks and Gilgil is written, his name cannot be missed.
The memories that stand out while in service is that of the Kenyan Troops that joined the United Nations Assistance Mission in Sierra Leone where he led a troop and they all came back safe, thanks to his nature of a prayerful man.
“I was recognized for leading my troop to join the UN peace mission in Sierra Leone, and one thing that stands out is that no member of the team lost his life for we all came back safe” he said.
Transiting from Military life to civilian to him, he says was easy as he had prepared himself psychologically and that his family members were supportive.
He is grateful to former Chief Of General Staff Daudi Tonje whom he says played a key role in transforming the Military through introduction of 5 pillars of training among them Professionalism, Resettlement, Medical Scheme and helping the officers think beyond military.
“The then Chief Of General Staff Daudi Tonje played a key role in helping officers think professionally and also prepare for their retirement life and that is how I managed to retire a prepared man,” said Cheruiyot.
Raymond who is a graduate of Kenya National Defence College (NDC) of 2005, led his class in research and presentation of the final course paper on “Kenya’s Grand Strategy (Vision 2030)”.
He is also a 2002 graduate of the South African National Defense College (SANDC) having studied Executive National Security Programme (ENSP) and holder of a Diploma in International Relations Studies from University of Nairobi where he researched and presented a paper on: “Post Conflict Peace Building and Reconstruction: The Case of Southern Sudan.”
‘Colonel’ as he is commonly referred to by locals of Ogilgei, has also pursued a graduate course in Public Administration and Governance at Mount Kenya University.
His patting shot is “All leaders both elected and non-elected should work closely to improve the livelihood of the people”.