President William Ruto will once again find himself campaigning against the family of former President Daniel arap Moi, after his son Gideon declared his intention to run for the Baringo Senate seat in the November 27 by-election.
On Thursday, Mr Moi, the Kanu chairman, declared his interest in the seat after weeks of keeping supporters guessing.
He will be up against the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate, Vincent Chemitei, as well as Benjamin Chebon, a High Court advocate running as an independent.
Dr Ruto, the UDA party leader, is expected to lead his supporters in canvassing for votes in a region that President Moi had a firm hold on for over half a century. In this mini-poll, the Mois will be hoping to stage a comeback after the Ruto-led wave scattered them far and wide.
In 2022, the UDA wave in the populous Rift Valley swept two Mois, Gideon and his elder brother Raymond, to political oblivion. Raymond was defeated by Paul 'Mamba' Chebor in the Rongai constituency, while Gideon lost to William Cheptumo in the Senate race.
The Baringo seat fell vacant following Senator Cheptumo's death in February this year after a long illness.
Those close to Kanu say he is hoping to capitalise on the anti-regime sentiment perpetuated by the Gen Z revolt last year in a bid to return to power. They say that this would be a vote of no confidence for the President in Baringo.
To secure the region's support, President Ruto appeased Baringo in the last Cabinet reshuffle by appointing Cheptumo’s widow, Hannah Wendot, to head the gender ministry.
Government functionaries are already using this as a campaigning tool, reminding the region that the president stood with them in their hour of need and that they should not embarrass him now by voting for someone else.
According to a press release issued by the party’s director of communications Manasse Nyainda on October 2, the announcement of Moi's candidature came after extensive consultations, deliberations, and consensus within the party and with the people of Baringo.
“The Kenya African National Union (Kanu) wishes to formally announce that, following extensive consultations, deliberations, and consensus within the party and with the people of Baringo, our national chairman, Gideon Moi, has been nominated as the party’s candidate for the forthcoming Baringo Senatorial by-election,” said Mr Nyainda.
“This decision highlights the party’s unwavering commitment to offering experienced, visionary, and people-centered leadership at a critical juncture for Baringo County and the nation at large. Moi has expressed profound gratitude to the party members, supporters, and the people of Baringo for their patience, confidence, and steadfast support,” he added.
He noted that the former Baringo Senator remains committed to running a people-driven campaign anchored on inclusivity, accountability, and service to all.
“As a party, we are confident that Moi’s candidature will resonate widely with the electorate. We call upon our supporters across Baringo County and the country at large to rally behind our Chairman as we embark on this crucial journey,’ said the party’s director of communication.
The by-elections will be a litmus test to the UDA party if at all they will reclaim the seat in the region perceived as Kenya Kwanza stronghold.
For a long time, President William Ruto and the Kanu chairman have been embroiled in a protracted battle of supremacy for the control of the vote-rich Rift Valley, with Baringo County, Moi's backyard among the counties pitting the political nemeses.
The party won the major elective seats in the 2022 general elections including the Governor which was won by Benjamin Cheboi, Florence Jematia (woman representative) and senate (Cheptumo).
Five parliamentary seats including Eldama Ravine, Mogotio, Baringo Central, Baringo North and Baringo South also went to the ruling party except for Tiaty which was won by William Kamket on a Kanu ticket. All the 30 ward representatives, except three, were also elected on UDA tickets.
In the 2022 general elections, the late Senator Cheptumo won by a landslide, managing to garner 141,777 votes to trounce the then Senator Gideon Moi of Kanu.
The Kanu chairman who was defending his seat for the third term came second in the polls, getting 71,480 while Felix Chelaite of The Service Party (TSP) garnered 3,261.
