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Chaos in Kabarnet as Gideon Moi fails to submit nomination papers for Senate by-election
Kanu supporters light bonfires in Kabarnet Town on October 9,2025, to protest the failure by the party’s chairman Gideon Moi to present his nomination papers to the IEBC.
Kabarnet Town erupted into chaos on Thursday after Kanu chairman Gideon Moi failed to submit his nomination papers, skipping a crucial deadline that would have seen him contest the Baringo Senate seat in a heated by-election race.
This triggered violent protests that disrupted the clearance of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Vincent Chemitei by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Angry supporters of Mr Moi barricaded roads and lit bonfires and attempted to stop UDA candidate Vincent Chemitei from filing nomination papers amid angry protests
The Kanu chairman was expected to present his papers at the Rehabilitation Centre in Kabarnet Town. However, he did not show up, which angered his supporters. They had waited for hours at the Kabarnet Airstrip, where he was supposed to land.
By around 2.00pm, thousands of his supporters stormed Kabarnet town and vowed not to allow Mr Chemetei, the UDA candidate, to present his nomination papers.
His failure to show up for IEBC clearance came a day after his meeting with President William Ruto at State House on Wednesday to discuss, among others, the Baringo Senate race and his candidature, according to sources.
Earlier on Tuesday, Deputy President Prof Kithure Kindiki met political leaders from Baringo county allied to UDA at his Karen residence in what he termed as adopting a coherent campaign programme for the upcoming Senate by-election, coming after bitter fallout among local MPs over Mr Chemitei’s nomination victory. With a divided ground team and Mr Moi in the picture, this had threatened to scuttle UDA spoils in the Senate race, hence the intervention by the President and his deputy.
Kanu had announced a week ago that its chairman, a former Senator for the county, would contest the seat.
According to a press release issued on October 2, 2025, by the party’s Director of Communications, Mr Manasse Nyainda, the party chose him to vie after extensive consultations, deliberations, and consensus both internally and with the people of Baringo.
Kanu supporters who were waiting for the party's chairman Gideon Moi at the Kabarnet Airstrip on October 9,2025. He was expected to present his nomination papers to the IEBC at the Kabarnet Rehabilitation Center.
The seat fell vacant following the death of Senator William Cheptumo in February this year after a prolonged illness.
When Mr Moi failed to appear, his supporters barricaded major roads in the town and lit bonfires to prevent the UDA candidate from submitting his papers.
Shortly after 3.00 pm, a helicopter carrying the UDA candidate and some MPs landed at Kiptilit Primary School in Baringo Central. Mr Chemitei’s entourage then proceeded to Kabarnet town for clearance by the IEBC.
The group was met with hostility and stoned by agitated Kanu supporters who remained determined to block Mr Chemitei from submitting his nomination papers.
The convoy was forced to retreat, and Mr Chemitei was later sneaked into the center by helicopter. As he was being cleared under tight security, dozens of rival supporters hurled stones and chanted protest songs.
Mr Festus Kipchumba, a Kanu supporter, expressed frustration over their candidate’s absence despite the scheduled morning submission.
“We were in Kabarnet town at 6 am waiting for our party chairman to present his papers for clearance by the IEBC. The thousands of people you see here were ready to escort him to the centre, but we are deeply hurt and wondering why he did not show up. No formal communication has been given to explain this,” said Mr Kipchumba.
After being cleared by the IEBC, Mr Chemitei addressed voters in Baringo County, urging them to support him in the November 27 by-election and to maintain peace during the campaign period.
“I am very happy to have been cleared by the IEBC to vie for the Baringo seat in the by-election. I appeal to the locals to be peaceful throughout the campaign. I also urge them to vote for me because I have their interests at heart,” he said.
Speaking after the clearance, UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar expressed confidence that the party will reclaim the seat.
“I believe we will have peaceful campaigns and transparent by-elections in the country. This party has no intention of subverting the popular vote because it is the popular party, and we believe we will assert our authority in Baringo County to reclaim the seat,” said Mr Omar.
He dismissed claims of an agreement between UDA and Kanu, stating that any such partnership would be considered only during the 2027 general elections.
“We urge the people of Baringo to unanimously vote for our candidate in the upcoming by-election. We are not in any coalition here in Baringo. We are running solely as a party, and we will reclaim this seat,” stated Mr Omar.
IEBC Chairman Erastus Ethekon assured voters that all preparations were in place to ensure free and fair by-elections.
“We want these by-elections to be conducted peacefully and with tranquility to allow citizens to exercise their constitutional rights and vote freely without intimidation, violence, or bribery. We also urge candidates to observe the code of conduct set forth; failure to do so will result in enforcement of the law and disciplinary action, including barring some candidates from contesting,” he said.
Mr Moi’s unexpected failure to submit nomination papers has ignited fierce unrest among Kanu loyalists, exposing cracks within the party and raising questions about its ability to hold onto its historical stronghold, even as UDA moves to expand its footprint in regions long dominated by rival parties.
