Kanu chairman Gideon Moi has broken his silence on the decision to step out of the Baringo Senate race, explaining how private discussions with President William Ruto led to a political compromise aimed at boosting development in the region.
Speaking to a crowd of thousands at his Kabarak residence in Nakuru county, Gideon said he chose to withdraw after the President personally pledged that pending projects in Baringo, including roads and water dams, would be completed under the national government’s oversight.
“Today’s meeting is for the President,” Gideon told supporters as he welcomed Ruto to his home. “We are here because you all know what happened on Thursday. I was very ready for the race, and you were ready too, but unfortunately, we never made it."
Gideon had been expected to submit his nomination papers at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission offices in Kabarnet between 11 am and 2 pm, according to the IEBC schedule. However, after hours of waiting by hundreds of supporters, he did not appear, raising questions about his next steps.
“I think it is him (Ruto) who knows why,” he quipped, eliciting laughter from the crowd.
The former senator said he had an open discussion with the President about the projects he started during his previous term but could not complete.
“I explained to him why I wanted to run,” Gideon said. “I told him I wanted to help my people because I wish and mean well for them."
He added that the President personally assured him that the unfinished projects would be prioritised. “When I told him so, he told me, ‘I will take it upon myself to do it.’ Since he is the head of state and he gave me that promise, I accepted to step down."
Gideon invited Ruto to address his supporters to ensure transparency and build trust. “I told him, now that we have talked, it’s only better you come and talk to my people, and that is what we are doing here today,” he said.
Friday’s gathering drew over 3,000 Kanu members, local leaders, and senior figures from the Kenya Kwanza coalition, reflecting a pivotal moment in Rift Valley politics.
The withdrawal followed intense speculation after Gideon did not appear at the IEBC in Kabarnet, leaving UDA’s Kiprono Chemitei with a clear advantage.
Sources said the agreement was finalised during a State House meeting on Wednesday night, where Ruto convinced Gideon to step aside in return for a development pact and strengthened collaboration between Kanu and Kenya Kwanza.
Addressing the audience, President Ruto confirmed he personally initiated the reconciliation. “Kama iko maneno imetokea, blame it on me,” he said. “Mimi ndiye nilitafutana na Gideon. I told him the destiny of Kenya is greater than what either of us can get.”
Ruto noted that his engagement was part of a broader mission to unite the country’s leadership behind shared development goals.
“I have had a conversation with the honourable Raila Odinga and told him it is important for us, despite everything else, to recognise our potential as a country,” he said. “I have also sat down with my predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta, and explained to him that we need to move this country to the next level.”
The event at Kabarak, attended by thousands of Kanu and Kenya Kwanza leaders, signified a warming of relations and marked the first presidential visit to the Moi family home in several years, hinting at a new phase of political cooperation ahead of the 2027 elections.