Gideon Moi Apologises to Baringo Residents After Ruto Deal Fails to Deliver Expected Projects

KANU chairman Gideon Moi has apologised to residents of Baringo County for withdrawing from the 2025 senatorial by-election after trusting President William Ruto’s assurances that stalled development projects in the region would be completed.

Moi made the remarks on Friday, October 23, while addressing Kalenjin elders and community representatives at his Kabarak home in Nakuru County. He said he had acted in good faith when he agreed to step aside but was still waiting for the commitments he understood had been made.

“Please forgive me,” Moi told members of his community, acknowledging that his decision to cooperate with Ruto had not produced the outcome he had anticipated.

The KANU leader explained that his decision was driven by the desire to see development projects completed in Baringo rather than to secure personal benefits. He cited stalled roads, dams and other projects that he said had remained unfinished during his earlier tenure as senator.

“I did not ask for anything personal. I asked for specific things for the people of Baringo that I had not accomplished,” Moi said, according to Citizen Digital.

Moi withdrew from the race in October 2025 after meeting Ruto at State House on October 9. At the time, he had been nominated by KANU to contest the seat left vacant following the death of Senator William Cheptumo in February 2025.

The withdrawal cleared the way for United Democratic Alliance candidate Vincent Kiprono Chemitei, who went on to win the November 27, 2025 by-election. Ruto later confirmed that he had personally asked Moi to step aside, presenting the decision as part of efforts to unite political leaders and allow younger leaders to take up responsibility.

Moi now says the understanding between him and the President has not delivered the expected results. He told the elders that he had waited for the government to address the development issues they discussed, but the matter remained unresolved.

“He told me, let us be patient, so I waited, waited and still waiting up to now,” Moi said, according to The Star, reiterating his demand that the commitments be honoured.

The KANU chairman also said relations between the two leaders deteriorated after the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, claiming that the President had asked him to wait for more time before resolving their agreement.

Beyond the development dispute, Moi criticised claims linking him to political coverage by the Standard Group, in which his family has interests. He dismissed the accusations as distractions from the commitments he says were made during their negotiations.

The strained relationship has also been accompanied by a dispute over a five-acre parcel of land near Eldoret State Lodge, where the Moi family alleges that security officers entered the property and ordered caretakers to leave. The family maintains that it has owned the land since 1996. These allegations form part of the wider grievances reported by the KANU leader.

Moi’s apology comes as political leaders and community representatives meet at Kabarak to discuss the political direction of the region ahead of the 2027 General Election.

His latest remarks have reopened questions about the political understanding that led him to abandon the Senate contest and whether the development commitments he says informed that decision will eventually be fulfilled.

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