By Valentine Omondi
KANU chairman Gideon Moi has revealed that he abandoned his bid for the Baringo senatorial seat after President William Ruto promised to complete stalled development projects in the county, saying he is still waiting for the commitments to be fulfilled more than a year later.
Moi, who was seeking to return to the Senate after losing the seat in the 2022 General Election, said he decided to trust the President’s assurances and put his political ambitions aside in the interest of development in Baringo.
Speaking during a meeting with political leaders, elders and representatives of Kalenjin communities at his Kabarak home on Friday, October 23, 2026, the KANU leader expressed regret over his decision, asking residents to forgive him for trusting the President’s promises.
According to Moi, his decision to contest the seat was driven by his desire to complete development projects he believed had not been adequately addressed during his previous tenure as senator.
“The President knows why I never made it to the ballot. I had some unfinished business in Baringo, from roads to dams; that’s why I decided to vie. Because President Ruto was elected by Kenyans, I decided to listen to him,” Moi said.
He added that he had waited for the commitments to be honoured but was yet to see the outcome he expected.
“He told me, let us be patient, so I waited, waited and still waiting up to now,” Moi said, according to reports of his address.
State House Meeting That Changed the Race
Moi’s withdrawal followed a meeting with Ruto at State House in Nairobi on October 9, 2025, a day before the President visited the KANU leader at his Kabarak residence.
At the time, Moi had already been nominated by KANU to contest the Baringo senatorial by-election scheduled for November 27, 2025.
The party had announced his candidature on October 2, 2025, following consultations within its ranks and with residents of the county. He was expected to present his nomination papers to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in Kabarnet on October 9.
However, he failed to appear at the nomination centre, leaving supporters who had gathered to accompany him uncertain about his political future.
His absence came amid reports of negotiations between him and Ruto, with the President seeking to persuade the KANU chairman to withdraw from the contest.
The following day, Ruto visited Moi at Kabarak, where the former senator explained the reasons behind his decision before supporters and political leaders.
Moi said he had informed the President that he wanted to contest because of unfinished development projects in Baringo, particularly roads and dams.
“When I told him so, he told me, ‘I will take it upon myself to do it.’ Since he is the head of state and he gave me that promise, I accepted to step down,” Moi said in October 2025.
He also explained that he had invited the President to Kabarak so that Ruto could address his supporters directly and explain the commitments made during their discussions.
Ruto Confirmed He Asked Moi to Step Aside
Ruto subsequently confirmed that he had personally asked Moi to withdraw from the race, describing the decision as part of efforts to promote unity and bring political leaders together.
Speaking in Baringo on October 28, 2025, the President said he had approached Moi and requested him to allow the younger generation to continue with political leadership as the two worked together on national development.
“I called my brother Gideon and told him he’s my age mate. I asked him respectfully, and in turn, he respected me and said that we should unite and allow the youth to carry on with this work while we plan ahead,” Ruto said.
The President’s remarks confirmed that Moi’s withdrawal was not simply a decision to abandon his political ambitions but followed direct discussions between the two leaders.
At the time, the rapprochement between Ruto and Moi was presented as an opportunity to improve cooperation between KANU and the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Ruto also urged KANU members to embrace the partnership, arguing that the country needed leaders to work together to accelerate development.
The understanding raised expectations among some residents that stalled projects in Baringo would receive renewed attention from the national government.
However, Moi’s latest remarks suggest that the development commitments he says influenced his decision remain a point of contention between the two leaders.
Moi’s Withdrawal Cleared the Way for UDA Victory
Moi’s decision significantly altered the contest for the Baringo Senate seat, which had fallen vacant following the death of Senator William Cheptumo on February 16, 2025.
Cheptumo, who was elected in 2022 after defeating Moi, died while undergoing treatment at Nairobi Hospital.
Following Moi’s withdrawal, UDA candidate Vincent Kiprono Chemitei went on to win the November 27, 2025, by-election.
Chemitei’s victory handed the ruling party the seat after the KANU chairman, who had previously represented Baringo in the Senate from 2013 to 2022, abandoned his attempt to reclaim it.
The withdrawal also generated debate within political circles over whether KANU had sacrificed an electoral opportunity in exchange for assurances from the President.
The latest revelations have revived questions about the understanding between the two leaders and whether the political cooperation announced in October 2025 has delivered the results Moi expected.
Family Disputes Add to Political Tensions
Beyond the development commitments, Moi has also raised concerns about what he describes as provocations against him and his family.
During his latest engagements at Kabarak, the KANU leader cited the occupation of a family property near Eldoret State Lodge by General Service Unit officers, as well as the alleged abduction of a key staff member.
The family has maintained that it has held the disputed five-acre property since 1996, while its lawyer has challenged the reported occupation.
Moi has also accused the administration of using concerns surrounding the independence of the Standard Group, in which his family holds shares, as a pretext to target him and his relatives.
The claims add another dimension to the deteriorating relationship between the two leaders, whose public reconciliation in October 2025 had suggested a new phase of political cooperation.
Moi’s latest remarks therefore place renewed scrutiny on the understanding that preceded his withdrawal from the Baringo senatorial race, particularly the development commitments he says informed his decision.
As political leaders begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election, the KANU chairman’s account raises fresh questions about the future of his relationship with Ruto and the extent to which their earlier agreement can be sustained.
