Kanu chairman Gideon Moi.
Kanu chairman Gideon Moi has dismissed calls by local leaders from Baringo County for him to strike a political deal with President William Ruto.
Local leaders have been urging the former Baringo Senator to work together with President Ruto for the sake of the unity of the Kalenjin community.
He spoke at the burial of former Baringo North MP Willy Kamuren in Aiyebo Secondary School where local leaders insinuated that Tiaty MP William Kamket’s move to join Kenya Kwanza was in preparing the way for his former Kanu party leader to follow suit.
Mr Kamket ditched Azimio la Umoja immediately after the 2022 General Election and joined Kenya Kwanza.
The MP, who defended his seat for the second term on a Kanu ticket, was welcomed by President Ruto at his official residence in Karen on September 1.
He was the only Azimio la Umoja MP in Baringo County, a region perceived as United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party stronghold.
“When I joined Kenya kwanza in 2022, it was like I went to prepare the way for you (Moi), and it is now your time to join the camp. I have been there for two and half months and I have done some assessment there and I can confirm to you that the house is clean... no thorns or any other danger. As you can see, I am okay and I have even added weight. You should join the government,” said MP Kamket.
“I vied for parliamentary seat on a Kanu ticket, but when the presidential results were announced that President Ruto from the Kalenjin community had won, It was only right that we come together and support the current administration, and that is why I joined Kenya Kwanza. We can only have one leader at a time. It is also prudent to hear the voice of the electorates…I gave in,” he added.
His Eldama Ravine counterpart Musa Sirma also claimed that if opposition leader Raila Odinga is now working with his political rival, then Mr Moi has no reason not to have a handshake with Dr Ruto.
“Even if you decide to join Kenya Kwanza as an alliance with Kanu, there is no problem at all and no one will question that, so long as we work together as a community and speak in one voice for the sake of unity. We have to clinch power for the second term…we cannot afford to lose and that can only happen if we are united,” said MP Sirma.
Responding to the calls, the Mr Moi stated that he doesn’t need a handshake with anyone, so long as he has the blessings of his Baringo people.
He was categorical that for as long as he works and is in good books with the people, he doesn’t have any reason to go looking for ‘handshake’ with anyone.
“There are things ahead of us, and when the time is ripe, I will come back to you the people and advise me on which way to take, and I will follow your advice. I do not need a handshake; I need the people of Baringo’s handshake. When you the people are with me, then everything else is automatic,” said Moi who was cagey on if he would vie for Baringo Senate seat following the demise of William Cheptumo.
He claimed that he has never insulted anyone and the ultimate purpose is to work for the people and avoid sideshows and cheap politicking.
“Kamket is telling me that he jumped ship and has even gone ahead to clear the way for me…but again, I think someone else recently has entered that house,” said Moi in what he seemed to be referring to the former Prime minister Odinga.
The former Senator, who was defending his seat for the third term, was floored by the late William Cheptumo of UDA party in the 2022 General Elections.
Some Baringo residents and local leaders, mainly his ardent supporters, are now calling on the Senator to make a comeback by vying for the seat in the upcoming by-elections following the demise of Cheptumo.
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