Gideon Moi Unable to Return to Local Politics, Will Not Defend Baringo Senate Seat

It has been revealed that KANU Chairman Gideon Moi will not run for the Baringo Senate seat in the August 9 General Election.

Moi, a member of the One Kenya Alliance (OKA), is said to have withdrawn his candidacy for the senatorial seat in order to focus on national politics.

The decision was partly motivated by recent political realignments, according to individuals close to the KANU head who spoke to a local daily.

KANU was one of the parties in OKA that signed a contract to join the Azimio la Umoja movement on Saturday.

Read: Kanu Firmly in OKA – Gideon Moi Clarifies

The alliance has already endorsed Raila Odinga, the head of the ODM, for the presidency in the upcoming elections.

Apart from Odinga and Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka, Moi is one of the major heavyweights in the alliance that has President Uhuru Kenyatta’s endorsement.

The senator is alleged to have negotiated a national post as a condition for joining Azimio if the alliance wins the polls.

As a result, ahead of the Baringo senate election, KANU has urged prospective candidates to apply for the party’s ticket.

Read Also: OKA, Azimio to Field One Presidential Candidate – Gideon Moi

“First l want to make it clear that Gideon Moi will not seek re-election in the August 9 polls because he is focused on national politics. In Baringo, Kanu welcomes any interested candidate to apply and use the party as their political vehicle in the General Election. So far we have no candidate in the race, but there is still room to field a candidate,” a source told Nation.

According to another source, the senator regards the position as junior due to his current role in national politics.

“Now that Chairman is playing in the English Premier League, he is unable to return to local leagues.” He’s now concentrating on national politics, according to the source.

KANU Secretary General Nick Salat also confirmed that Moi will not running for elective office.

Read Also: Moses Kuria Declines To Work with OKA Over Azimio Merger

“Kanu is considering some options and we will field a candidate in the Baringo senatorial race to succeed chairman Gideon Moi,” Salat said.

KANU will face the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), which is led by Deputy President William Ruto, in the senatorial election.

Moi and the DP have been at odds for a long time, each seeking to control the Rift Valley region. Under the Kenya Kwanza alliance, Ruto is eyeing the presidency in the upcoming elections.

Tenges ward rep Silas Tochim, Baringo North MP William Cheptumo, National Health Insurance Fund senior official Isaiah Kirukmet, and Felix Chelaite are among the Baringo leaders pursuing the UDA ticket.