KANU Chairman Gideon Moi has officially withdrawn from the Baringo Senatorial by-election, ending days of speculation that followed his surprise appearance at State House Nairobi alongside President William Ruto.
Confirming the development, KANU Secretary-General George Wainaina said on Thursday afternoon that the party will not field a candidate in the upcoming poll — a decision he linked to the meeting held at State House on Wednesday.
“Yes, Hon. Gideon Moi will not be contesting the Baringo senatorial seat, and as a party, we have chosen not to front any candidate,” Wainaina stated.
The announcement effectively reshapes the political battleground in Baringo, a region long associated with the Moi family’s influence. It also marks a rare moment of détente between Moi and Ruto, whose political rivalry has defined Rift Valley politics for years.
Inside the Baringo Race: Who’s Still Standing
With Moi’s exit, the contest now centers on the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) nominee Vincent “Kiprono” Chemitei, who has already been cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Chemitei, a youthful aspirant backed by the ruling party, recently met President Ruto at State House — a move widely seen as solidifying UDA’s hold on the race.
Before Chemitei’s nomination, the UDA primaries had drawn a crowded field, including Linus Kamket, Reuben Chepsongol, Silas Tochim, Daniel Kiptoo Korir, Isaac Kirikmet, and Wycliffe Tobole Kipsang, signaling intense local competition.
Other names that had surfaced in early speculation include Simon Chelugui, Isaiah Kirukmet, Gilbert Malema, and Felix Chelaite, though most are yet to confirm whether they will proceed as independent candidates.
Political Undercurrents and Implications
Moi’s withdrawal, coming immediately after his closed-door meeting with President Ruto, is being read as a symbolic realignment within the Rift Valley — and possibly a thawing of long-standing political tensions between the two leaders.
Analysts suggest the move could mark the start of a new working relationship between Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration and the independence-era KANU party, which has in recent years struggled to reclaim its political footing.
The Baringo senatorial by-election, slated for November 27, 2025, now appears headed for a one-sided contest unless a surprise independent candidate emerges to challenge UDA’s dominance.
As things stand, the decision by Gideon Moi to step aside — and by KANU to stay out — may well redefine the balance of power in one of Kenya’s most symbolic political regions.
