KANU chairman Gideon Moi has asked residents of Baringo County to forgive him for withdrawing from the November 2025 senatorial by-election after trusting President William Ruto’s assurances that stalled development projects would be completed.
Moi says he decided to abandon his senatorial ambitions to give the national government an opportunity to fulfil its promises to the people of Baringo, particularly on roads and dams.
Speaking during meetings with political leaders and community representatives at his Kabarak home, the KANU leader said the commitments that influenced his decision had not materialised nearly a year later.
“The president 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,” Moi said when explaining his original decision.
How Ruto Convinced Gideon Moi to Step Aside
Moi had been nominated by KANU to contest the Baringo senatorial seat following the death of Senator William Cheptumo in February 2025.
However, after meeting Ruto at State House on October 9, 2025, he did not present his nomination papers to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), effectively ending his bid.
Ruto subsequently visited Moi at his Kabarak residence, where the two leaders addressed KANU supporters and discussed their political understanding.
Moi said he had trusted the President’s assurances that the government would take responsibility for completing stalled projects in the county.
The withdrawal cleared the way for United Democratic Alliance candidate Vincent Kiprono Chemitei to win the November 27, 2025, by-election.
Unfulfilled Promises Put Political Deal Under Scrutiny
Moi’s latest remarks raise fresh questions about the development commitments that accompanied his withdrawal from the race.
The KANU chairman has also raised concerns over what he describes as provocations against him and his family, including a dispute involving family property near Eldoret State Lodge.
The claims come amid renewed political activity in the Rift Valley as leaders position themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Moi’s decision to step aside had disappointed some KANU supporters, several of whom had mobilised to receive him in Kabarnet on the day he was expected to submit his nomination papers.
His latest appeal to Baringo residents signals an effort to address the political fallout from that decision, while the status of the development commitments remains a central issue.
For residents who expected stalled projects to resume following the political agreement, the question now is whether the promises made during the 2025 negotiations will be fulfilled.
