Gideon takes UDA back to drawing board
By Wycliffe Kipsang, May 20, 2022
Baringo Senator Gideon Moi’s move to defend his seat has ruffled political feathers in Deputy President William Ruto’s camp.
Kanu Secretary-General Nick Salat yesterday confirmed that the party had submitted the name of Gideon to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
“Our party’s election board forwarded his name. I will not comment about his candidature as that will be the prerogative of the people to decide,” Salat said.
People Daily has established that the Ruto-led United Democratic Alliance (UDA) was almost sure of clinching the seat after Gideon announced that he would not run but focus on national politics.
Baringo North MP William Cheptumo beat the other two aspirants by a huge margin at the UDA primaries in April to clinch the party’s ticket.
Cheptumo garnered 69,420 votes followed by Isaiah Kirukmet who got 45,681 votes.
Should the Senator defend his seat, it will set another stage for a duel with Ruto.
However, a section of UDA supporters in Baringo yesterday played down the impact Gideoni’s candidature will have on the region’s politics.
Nicholas Koros, a youth leader from Baringo North wondered why the Senator was expressing interest in the seat now yet he had all along told them that he will not engage in local politics in 2022.