Section of KANU supporters threaten to boycott Baringo by-election after Gideon Moi pulls out
By Wycliffe Kipsang, October 12, 2025A section of KANU supporters in Baringo County is now threatening not to take part in the forthcoming by-election after its national chairman pulled out of the senatorial race.
Many supporters who spoke to K24 Digital expressed their disappointment over Moi’s decision, which they termed as betrayal.
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“Many of his supporters spent a lot by mobilising resources for them to travel all the way to Kabarnet to witness him present his papers to IEBC, only for him to fail to turn up. We have resolved that with our chairman not being on the ballot, we will not take part in this by-election,” Baringo North Kanu Chairman Elijah Kandie said.
“A lot of things are not coming out clearly to us as party supporters. This was not only about the Senate. Gideon Moi is the chairman of our party. We are very disappointed with these developments,” added Kandie.
KANU announced that Moi had withdrawn from the forthcoming by-election following a series of meetings held with President William Ruto.
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According to Kanu Secretary General George Wainaina, the party will not field a candidate in the County, paving the way for United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Vincent Kiprono Chemitei to battle it out with six other candidates.
Mixed reactions
Angered by Moi’s failure to turn up to present his papers to IEBC in Kabarnet on Thursday, Moi’s supporters hit the streets singing anti-government slogans even as they maintained that there will be no election without the Kanu boss.
This was after they were left stranded at the Kabarnet Airstrip, where they had plans to mount a grand reception for the former senator upon his arrival.
It also emerged that even Gideon’s close aides were kept in the dark about the new developments, with a campaign manager said to have been ready for the presentation of the papers and that helicopters had been hired and a large Kanu contingent mobilised.
Gideon was, however, a no-show.
This angered his supporters, who confronted Chemitei at the Monument in Kabarnet, prompting him to flee via a helicopter from Kiptilit to reach the IEBC offices at the Rehabilitation Centre and submit his nomination papers.
Speaking after he was given the green light by IEBC, Chemitei expressed confidence that he will clinch the seat even as he sought to brush off the events preceding his arrival at the IEBC offices.
“I’m aware one or two incidents have happened, but that is how life is. I’m even more energised. I urge my supporters to be calm as we forge ahead for a greater Baringo,” said Chemitei.
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During the UDA primaries, Chemitei, 31, emerged as the winner after garnering 48,791 votes while Wycliff Kipsang Tobole and Daniel Kiptoo came second and third with 30,897 and 23,613 votes respectively.
Gideon’s move comes barely a week after KANU announced that he will be the party’s flag bearer in the Baringo senatorial race.
“This decision underscores the party’s unwavering commitment to offering experienced, visionary, and people-centred leadership at a critical juncture for Baringo County and the nation at large,” Kanu’s statement then read.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen lauded Gideon for his decision to work with the broad-based government, which he said is a good step towards national unity and cohesion.
“He has made a very good decision. Chemitei is like a son to him, and it would not have been good for the Kanu leader to compete with him. There is a stage when you reach in politics, you have to start to focus ahead and mentor the youth,” said Murkomen.
“This is exactly what Gideon has done. I know his decision has angered many people, but to me he has made a very wise decision,” added the CS.
He said there was nothing wrong with KANU working with the broad-based government, noting that ODM leader Raila Odinga opened the way for other opposition leaders by doing the same.
Moi’s dwindling political fortunes manifested itself in his Baringo County backyard in the last election after KANU lost all the seats to President Ruto’s UDA.
In the last election, the junior Moi was trounced by the late Cheptumo, a former Baringo North MP who garnered 141,777 votes against Mr Moi’s 71,480 votes.
Cheptumo, a close ally of President Ruto, had served three terms as MP.
Apart from Moi losing his seat, Kanu also lost the woman representative seat (Gladwell Cheruiyot) to UDA’s Florence Jematia.
The Independent Party only retained the Tiaty parliamentary seat, which was won by William Kamket.
Others in the race to replace the late William Cheptumo in Baringo County include: Daisy Jeptoo Kimosop (Independent), Steve David Kipruto (Republican Liberal Party) and Vincent Kipkurui Koech of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).
Others include: Samuel Letasio (Kenya Moja Movement), Shadrack Kinet Kaplawat (Alliance for Real Change (ARK), Daniel Kipchirchir Kurui (Umoja na Maendeleo Party (UMP), Benjamin Chebon (The New Democrats (TND) and Samson Cherop (independent).