KANU chairman Gideon Moi during a meeting at his Kabarak home on October 23,2026

KANU chairman Gideon Moi has spoken about his discussions with President William Ruto ahead of the November 2025 Baringo Senate by-election, saying he is still waiting for commitments he claims were made during their negotiations.

Moi made the remarks while hosting elders and representatives from various Kalenjin sub-tribes at his Kabarak home in Nakuru, where he reflected on his decision not to contest the by-election.

Speaking in Kalenjin, Moi said he had waited for the President to fulfil what he understood to be their agreement.

“He told me, let us be patient, so I waited, waited and still waiting up to now,” Moi said.

He described the dispute as unnecessary and called for the commitments he referred to to be honoured.

“As for me, this was a pedestrian talk, sideshows which are not necessary. Honour what you promised,” he said.

Moi also apologised to Baringo residents for withdrawing from the Senate race, saying he had trusted the President's word when he decided not to contest the by-election.

The KANU leader had been nominated by his party to contest the seat left vacant following the death of Senator William Cheptumo in February 2025.

However, he withdrew after meeting Ruto at State House on October 9, 2025, leaving United Democratic Alliance candidate Vincent Kiprono Chemitei to contest the seat. Chemitei subsequently won the by-election.

Ruto later publicly confirmed that he had personally asked Moi to step aside to allow the ruling party's candidate to contest.

“I called my brother Gideon and told him he’s my age mate. I asked him respectfully, and in turn, he respected me and said that we should unite and allow the youth to carry on with this work while we plan ahead,” the President said then.

At the time, Moi said he had unfinished business in Baringo, particularly stalled road and water projects, and had decided to heed the President's appeal.

His latest remarks revisit the discussions that preceded his withdrawal, with Moi saying he is still waiting for the commitments he referred to during the meeting.

Moi also rejected suggestions that coverage by the family-owned Standard Group was being used to target Ruto and his administration because of their political differences.

He questioned the linking of the media organisation's coverage to his personal relationship with the President, arguing that the company had other shareholders and that its independence should be respected.

The meeting at Kabarak brought together elders and representatives from different Kalenjin sub-tribes, against the backdrop of shifting political alliances and discussions about the region's political direction.