‘Please Forgive Me’ Gideon Moi Speaks After Political Deal With Ruto Backfires, Gives Fresh Details

KANU chairman Gideon Moi has apologised to residents of Baringo County for withdrawing from the 2025 Senate by-election, breaking his silence on the political agreement with President William Ruto that ultimately fell apart.

Moi made the remarks on Friday, October 23, while addressing KANU officials and opinion leaders at his Kabarak home in Nakuru County.

He outlined a series of grievances against the President, signalling a possible return to independent political engagement ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The former senator’s apology follows his decision to abandon the race for the Baringo Senate seat in October 2025, paving the way for the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate to win the November 27 by-election uncontested by his main rival.

Moi, who represented Baringo in the Senate between 2013 and 2022, withdrew after holding meetings with Ruto at State House in Nairobi and at his Kabarak residence.

The engagements were widely viewed as an attempt to end years of political rivalry between the two leaders.

However, their apparent reconciliation later unravelled, with tensions becoming public in June 2026 during a dispute involving the Standard Group, in which the Moi family has an ownership interest.

On June 24, Ruto accused the media company of using negative coverage to pressure his administration and identified Moi as its owner. The President later escalated his criticism, making allegations involving unpaid labour and what he described as extortion.

The Standard Group rejected the blackmail accusations and said the government owed it KSh1.2 billion.

Speaking at Kabarak, Moi reportedly argued that the dispute over the media house’s editorial independence had been used as a basis for personal attacks against him. He also clarified that the Moi family was not the Standard Group’s only shareholder.

Beyond the media dispute, the KANU chairman raised concerns about the reported occupation of a five-acre property belonging to his family in Eldoret.

According to the family’s lawyer, armed police officers moved onto the land, which the family has held title to since 1996, without an eviction notice.

Moi also cited the alleged abduction of a staff member and other grievances that he said had accumulated since his understanding with Ruto.

Although he did not announce his next political move, Moi indicated that he intended to chart an independent course ahead of the 2027 elections.

His remarks leave open questions about whether KANU will pursue a separate political alliance and whether the party leader will seek an elective position in the next general election.

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