Gideon Moi: Following in His Father’s Footsteps

Gideon Kipsiele Moi is the Chairman of the Kenya African National Union (KANU), Kenya’s independence party.

Born on 22 October, 1963, to Lena and the late President Daniel Moi, Gideon is the immediate former Senator for Baringo County.

He is the last-born in a family of eight. His siblings include; Doris Moi, Jennifer Jemutai Kositany, June Moi, Raymond Moi, Jonathan Toroitich, Philip Moi, John Mark Moi.

His father became Kenya’s Vice President six years after his birth, a post that strained the elder Moi’s marriage.

Gideon’s parents divorced in 1974, and while his elder siblings continued to live with their mother, the legislator remained with his father, forging a special bond between them.

Moi is married to Zahra Moi, with whom he has three children: Kimoi, Kigen and Lulu.

Education

Gideon schooled at St Mary’s Secondary School. His schoolmates, many of them his lifetime friends, include President Uhuru Kenyatta, businessman Jimi Wanjigi, journalist Jeff Koinange, and Foreign Affairs CS Raychelle Omamo.

Between 1977 – 1980, the lawmaker schooled at Strathmore School and later attended Stafford University, USA where he pursued a BA in Economics.

Wealth

The Kroll report, commissioned in 2004 by President Mwai Kibaki to track assets of those accused of robbing the state, identified Gideon Moi, according to The Guardian. Moi was estimated to be worth US$550 million, according to the publication.

During his 24-year reign, the late Moi and his close friends are said to have looted more than £1 billion in government funds.

The 110-page Kroll report details assets still allegedly owned by the Moi family and their entourage in 28 countries, including hotels and residences in South Africa and the United States, a 10,000-hectare ranch in Australia, three hotels in London, a £4 million house in Surrey, and a £2 million penthouse flat in Knightsbridge.

The Moi family allegedly laundered $400 million through a complicated web of accounts in Kenya, Geneva, and Frankfurt, according to the report.

It further claimed that they and a few colleagues operate a bank in Belgium that was used to launder money from Kenya, as well as exposing a labyrinth of hidden bank accounts, shell businesses, and dummy trusts registered in tax havens such as the Cayman Islands.

Philip and Gideon, were reported to be worth £384m and £550m respectively.

Politics

After a brief foray into politics, Gideon ran for his father’s parliamentary seat in the 2002 general election.

He lost his seat as Baringo Central MP in 2007 before being elected as Baringo Senator, a position he lost in the 2022 general elections.

In the run-up to the August 2022 elections, the Kanu Chairman allied with Narc-Kenya’s Martha Karua, Cyrus Jirongo, and Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka under One Kenya Alliance (OKA).

However, a few months before the polls, they joined forces with ODM leader Raila Odinga to form the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance coalition party.

They were backing Raila’s presidential bid. The former prime minister unfortunately lost to then deputy President William Ruto.