Former Baringo Senator and Kenya National Union (KANU) party leader Gideon Moi held a meeting with the President on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at State House.

Footage and photos of the meeting were released by Statehouse on Thursday, October 9, 2025, the same day thousands of Baringo residents who support KANU waited for him to land at the Kabarnet Airstrip so they could accompany him to the IEBC offices for clearance to contest.

In the photos, he was seen sharing a light moment with the president as they walked towards the meeting area, where they were joined by a section of other leaders from Baringo County.

Watch: Handshake coming? Ruto hosts Gideon Moi at Statehouse

The president proceeded to preside over a meeting with the delegation from Baringo.

This came amid speculations that he had withdrawn from the Baringo senatorial race, as he was expected to appear at the IEBC nomination offices between 11 am and 2 pm.

The development left his supporters angry and disappointed, forcing them to walk back home in frustration.

The meeting has elicited sharp reactions from Kenyans who are now wondering about his next political move.

This comes just days after he announced that he had joined the race to replace the late Baringo Senator William Cheptumo, who died while still serving in that capacity.

The two leaders had not seen eye to eye for a long time, often clashing over the Rift Valley kingship, a rivalry that culminated in Gideon blocking the president from visiting his late father, former president Daniel arap Moi.

Gideon had already kick-started his campaigns with a truck branded in his image and KANU party colours and even donated Ksh2.5 million through Gladwell Cheruiyot.

Tiaty Member of Parliament William Kamket, who was once a close ally of Gideon and held senior positions within the KANU party before crossing over to the Kenya Kwanza side, recently declared that only a UDA candidate would be voted for by the people of Baringo, not any candidate from another party.

Gideon Moi’s political endeavours

Gideon Moi, who had maintained a low profile after losing to William Cheptumo in 2022, often appeared at major events.

During past engagements with Baringo residents, he stated that he had no animosity with the president and was open to talks.

In a separate encounter, he told residents that he does not need a handshake with President William Ruto or any other leader, emphasising that the most important handshake and reconciliation is with the people of Baringo, who had previously elected him twice as senator before he lost in 2022.