Gideon Moi To Defend Baringo Senate Seat in August

Kanu Chairman Gideon Moi will seek to retain his Baringo Senate seat in the August 9 elections.

Moi’s name was submitted to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for a third term in the Senate, Party Secretary-General Nick Salat has revealed.

“Yes, chairman’s name was submitted to the IEBC by the party to go for the Senate seat in the August General Election. The party’s election board forwarded the name but I do not know if it was his will or not, but his name was submitted,” Salat told the Nation.

Moi is a supporter of Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga.

Read: Gideon Moi Backs Kalonzo’s Running Mate Bid

He has kept his cards close to his chest for a long time, having once harboured presidential ambitions.

Senator Moi, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Amani National Congress chief Musalia Mudavadi, and Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetang’ula had stated that they would choose one of them to run for president under the One Kenya Alliance (OKA).

OKA swiftly disintegrated, with Mudavadi and Wetang’ula joining Deputy President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza Alliance, and Kalonzo and Moi siding with Raila.

Kalonzo has since picked Narok Senate candidate Andrew Sunkuli as his running mate after ditching Azimio.

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

The former vice president was flanked by Moi when he made the announcement on Monday.

Moi, on the other hand, issued a statement to party hopefuls the next day, indicating he was entirely committed to Azimio.

“We, therefore, remain committed to the aspirations and guiding principles of Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition and its mission of inclusivity. And to this end, we shall leave no one behind,” Moi said.

The Kanu leader’s entry into the campaign means he will compete for the Senate seat against Dr Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) nominee, Baringo North MP William Cheptumo.

Read Also: Kalonzo To Vie for the Presidency, Picks Sunkuli as Running Mate

It is also an indication of the Rift Valley domination war between Moi and Dr Ruto.

A huge struggle between the two main Kalenjin leaders is rapidly forming, with each aiming to exploit the other’s weak areas in order to capture control of the vote-rich region.

The DP has ruled the region for the past ten years, pushing Moi to the edge. However, recent national political changes led by President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila have elevated the senator and given him more clout in regional politics.

The Kanu party is on the lookout for UDA losers in a strategy they hope will help them fight Dr Ruto’s Rift Valley tsunami.

Read Also: Kalonzo’s Wiper Seeks to Exit Azimio Over Running Mate Row

Salat also told the daily that his party was determined to give UDA a run for its money.

Apart from North Eastern and Coast, where the party has support, Salat claims that the Rift Valley is the key area where the party is aiming for votes because it has fielded a number of candidates.

“What was UDA last week and what it is today are not the same. Those who were at the forefront defending UDA ended up being victims and their vocal-ness is no longer there. The new people who have come on board do not have the same vigour that the rest had,” Salat added.

“It is for us now to really harvest where they are weak and we have identified the areas … The battleground now is in the Rift Valley and as a party, we are prepared for it,” he said, adding that the independence party will be fielding 16 governors across the country.

Read Also: Sauti Sol Threaten to Sue Raila’s Azimio Over use of “Extravaganza” Song Without Consent

In March, a source had intimated that Moi would not defend his seat as he had negotiated a national post as a condition for joining Azimio.

As a result, Kanu had urged prospective candidates to apply for the party ticket.

“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 regarded the position as junior due to his current role in national politics.

Read Also: Marende Out of Vihiga Governor Race After Raila Promised Senate Speaker Post

“Now that Chairman is playing in the English Premier League, he is unable to return to local leagues.”

Salat had then confirmed the same.

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