Gideon Moi opens up about why he withdrew from Baringo senatorial race
By Joel Masibo, October 10, 2025Kenya African National Union (KANU) Chairman Gideon Moi has explained why he withdrew from the forthcoming Baringo County senatorial by-election scheduled for Thursday, November 27, 2025.
Speaking while hosting President William Ruto at the vast Kabarak farm in Nakuru County on Friday, October 10, 2025, the former Baringo Senator revealed that his State House meeting with President Ruto on Thursday, October 9, 2025, brought about the decision to shelve his senatorial ambitions after failing to appear at the IEBC nomination offices between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. for clearance on Thursday, October 9, 2025.
He explained that he had intended to contest for the vacant senatorial seat left behind by William Cheptumo, who died while undergoing treatment at Nairobi Hospital in February 2025, because of unfinished work in Baringo.
However, Gideon Moi detailed that he had no option but to listen to President William Ruto regarding the senatorial succession politics in the particular devolved unit.
”The president (William Ruto) 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,” Gideon Moi said.
Also watch: Tensions rise in Baringo as Kanu, UDA supporters clash over senate race.
Gideon Moi campaigns
Gideon Moi had started his campaign for the Baringo Senate seat with a donation of Ksh 2.5 million to teachers in the county during a teachers’ meeting in Baringo County on Saturday, October 4, 2025, where former Baringo Woman Representative Gladwell Cheruiyot represented the KANU Chairman and handed over the funds on his behalf.
Previously, KANU had confirmed Gideon Moi’s Baringo County senatorial candidature in a statement issued on Thursday, October 2, 2025, by Director of Communications Manasse Nyainda.
“The Kenya African National Union (KANU) wishes to formally announce that, following extensive consultations, deliberations, and consensus within the party and with the people of Baringo, our National Chairman, Hon. Gideon Moi, has been nominated as the party’s candidate for the forthcoming Baringo Senatorial by-election,” read the press release in part.
Upon his IEBC clearance, Gideon Moi was to face United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party candidate Vincent Kiprono Chemitei, who won the UDA primaries.