Ruto's Candidate Beats Gideon Moi in Baringo Senate Race

Baringo Senator Gideon Moi gives an address
Baringo Senator Gideon Moi gives an address.
File

The son of Kenya's second President and KANU party leader, Gideon Moi, has failed to defend his Baringo Senate seat.

Moi garnered 71,480 votes with the winner, William Cheptumo, of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) garnering 141,777 votes.

Cheptumo was fronted by Deputy President William Ruto who promised a bruising battle to unseat Moi.

Baringo Senator Gideon Moi during a ceremony where he was endorsed byLembus Council of Elders in Eldama Ravine Constituency on Thursday, July 30, 2022
Baringo Senator Gideon Moi during a ceremony where he was endorsed by the Lemus Council of Elders in Eldama Ravine Constituency on Thursday, July 30, 2022.
Gideon Moi

The two-time Senator - who is an Azimio la Umoja principal - becomes the latest casualty of the infamous 'Yellow Wave' that has been sweeping across Mount Kenya and Rift Valley counties.

Also in the race were The Service Party's Felix Chelaite and independent candidates Florence Jelagat and David Kipruto.

His defeat spells doom for his party, KANU, bearing in mind that his Secretary General, Nick Salat, also failed in his Bomet East parliamentary bid.

According to Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) results, Richard Yegon of the UDA garnered 35,431 votes while Salat got 13,425.

Moi will now remain in the cold unless given an appointive role in the event that Azimio led by Raila Odinga wins the presidential vote.

Moi's political journey ahead of the 2022 ballot was full of twists and turns with the Senator having expressed interest to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta.

He formed a pact with other presidential candidates at the time including Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Moses Wetangula (Ford Kenya), Martha Karua (Narc Kenya) and Musalia Mudavadi (ANC) in the defunct One Kenya Alliance (OKA).

However, when the coalition split, he declared that he had shelved his presidential bid in support of Raila.

The Senator joined his former OKA principals in the lineup to become Raila's running mate. Nonetheless, he pulled out of the race before the interview and endorsed Kalonzo.

The KANU party leader then registered with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to defend his Baringo Senate seat.

Baringo Senator Gideon MP casting his vote at Tandui Primary School in Sacho, Baringo County on Tuesday, August 9, 2022
Baringo Senator Gideon MP casting his vote at Tandui Primary School in Sacho, Baringo County on Tuesday, August 9, 2022.
Gideon Moi