By Anderson Ojwang
Ahead of the 2022 general elections, Gideon Moi toyed with a presidential ambition and even claimed that he was not scared by then Deputy President William Ruto’s presidential bid.
Moi was indeed positioning himself not only for Kalenjin leadership but also nationally, following in his father’s footsteps.
The move drew mixed reactions, with his supporters urging him to run for the presidency while others dismissed him.
Moi would later abandon the dream and instead opt to support the Azimio La Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga.
Similarly, Moi opted to defend his Baringo senatorial seat on a KANU ticket, but the strong Ruto and UDA wave slayed the cock.
Moi suffered a shocking defeat to UDA candidate William Cheptumo. Cheptumo recently died, occasioning a by-election in which Moi hopes to reclaim the party’s lost glory.
The loss of the seat was a wake-up call to Moi over the power shift. After the loss, Moi restructured and rebranded the party of independence.
Previously, Baringo County—the home of Kenya’s second president, the late Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi—was the seat of power.
But with Moi’s exit, the power shifted to Sugoi in Uasin Gishu, and Moi was left to control pockets of Baringo County.
After the 2002 presidential loss by KANU’s presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta, Uhuru and Ruto—who was then the party secretary general—defected to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ahead of 2007.
Ruto and Moi took different political paths, with the latter remaining with KANU while Ruto formed URP and later UDA, which eventually landed him the presidency.
Moi has now officially joined the race for the forthcoming Baringo senatorial by-election, where he will face off with UDA’s Vincent Kiprono, as well as independent candidates Daisy Jeptoo and Benjamin Chebon.
In a recent statement, the party confirmed that Moi was nominated after extensive consultations, deliberations, and consensus within KANU and with the people of Baringo.
“This decision underscores the party’s unwavering commitment to offering experienced, visionary, and people-centered leadership at a critical juncture for Baringo County and the nation at large,” wrote KANU’s Director of Communications, Manasse Nyainda.
Moi expressed gratitude to KANU members, supporters, and the people of Baringo for their patience, confidence, and steadfast support. He pledged to run a people-driven campaign anchored on inclusivity, accountability, and service delivery.
KANU called on supporters across Baringo County and the country to rally behind Moi as he embarks on what the party termed a “crucial journey.”
Moi has embarked on the campaign by offering goodies to teachers to win their vote bloc.
Moi officially kick-started his campaign for the Baringo Senate seat with a donation of Ksh 2.5 million to teachers in the county.
The contribution was delivered on Saturday, October 4, 2025, during a teachers’ meeting in Baringo County, where former Baringo Woman Representative Gladwell Cheruiyot represented Moi and handed over the funds on his behalf.
Sources have revealed that Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has convened a meeting with all MPs from the county in his office, which is widely seen as a strategy to counter KANU’s influence in the region.
MPs invited to attend the meeting include Joseph Makilap (Baringo North), Reuben Kiborek (Mogotio), Charles Kamuren (Baringo South), Musa Sirma (Eldama-Ravine), William Kamket (Tiaty), Joshua Kandie (Baringo Central), and Florence Jematiah (Woman Representative).
Kamket has stated that only a candidate on a UDA ticket will be voted in by the people of Baringo in the upcoming senatorial by-election.
While speaking in his constituency on Thursday, October 2, 2025, the MP—who was originally elected on Gideon Moi’s KANU ticket before defecting to UDA—emphasized that only candidates affiliated with UDA would be elected, dismissing those from other parties.
But the Baringo senatorial by-election provides Moi with the opportunity to make the cock crow once again and to catapult himself into the region’s emerging new political matrix.
For Moi, the Baringo seat is a must-win to remain relevant in the emerging political matrix both in the region and nationally.
It is a must-win for Moi to ensure the party of independence is back crowing, and this explains why the party is sponsoring candidates in several by-elections.
