Former Baringo Senator and KANU chairman Gideon Moi has explained his differences with President William Ruto.
Moi cited unfulfilled promises and provocations by Ruto’s administration over the past years at a meeting in Kabarak on October 23, 2026.
He also accused the administration of using concerns about the independence of the Standard Group as a pretext to target him and his family, noting that they are not the media company’s only shareholders.
Further, during his address, he appealed to Baringo residents to forgive him for trusting Ruto’s promises and withdrawing from the 2025 Senate by-election.
Gideon abandoned his bid to reclaim the seat he held from 2013 to 2022 after discussions with Ruto at State House.
According to Gideon, he had remained silent while those present contributed to the discussion.
“During the discussion, I made sure that in everything, I remained silent and let those professionals talk,” Gideon Moi said.
President Ruto confirmed he personally asked Moi to withdraw.
According to Gideon, the decision was viewed as part of an agreement to bring KANU closer to Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the broad-based government.
Some KANU members also criticized his withdrawal, questioning whether the party had adequately consulted its leadership and supporters before abandoning the contest.
Also Read: President Ruto Says He Is Being Blackmailed By Gideon Moi
Family property dispute adds to tensions
In addition to the political fallout, the dispute has coincided with a disagreement over a five-acre parcel of land belonging to the Moi family near Eldoret State Lodge in Uasin Gishu County.
According to The Standard, armed General Service Unit officers entered the property in October 2026 and ordered its caretakers to vacate.
The family’s lawyer, Moses Mutisya, maintained that the family had owned the property since 1996 and challenged the reported action as unlawful.
Gideon reportedly cited the occupation of family property as one of the actions that had strained his relationship with the administration.
Abduction allegations and Standard Group independence
Moi also explained the abduction of a key staff member and what he described as efforts to target his family through the Standard Group.
The media organization has faced concerns over press freedom following the reported abduction of associate editor Alex Kiprotich in September 2026.
According to reports, armed men seized him near Nakuru and later released him.
The incident prompted calls for an investigation, while police denied involvement, noting that they were investigating the incident.
During the incident, the organization Reported that the abductors questioned Kiprotich about journalistic sources and editorial decisions, raising concerns about possible intimidation of the press.
Also Read: Gideon Moi Reports Missing Land Parcel in Trans Nzoia County
Moi and Ruto Political Divide
Moi, son of former President Daniel Arap Moi, became chairman of KANU and sought to preserve the party’s political relevance after his father left office.
On the other hand, Ruto, who served as KANU secretary-general before the party’s political realignments in the early 2000s, built his own political base through the Jubilee administration and later UDA.
During the 2013 and 2017 elections, the camp diverged, as Ruto consolidated his influence while Moi sought to maintain KANU’s presence.
In addition, during the 2022 General Election, Gideon backed Raila Odinga’s Azimio la Umoja coalition, which opposed Ruto’s presidential bid.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
