Why Ruto chose to include Gideon Moi in broad-based gov't

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President William Ruto has promised to include KANU national chairman, Gideon Moi in his government, marking a new chapter of cooperation between two leaders once separated by deep political rivalry.

Speaking at Kabarak a day after Mr Moi withdrew from the Baringo senatorial race, the President hailed the decision as “an act of statesmanship” and assured him of a role in the broad-based government.

“Kama iko maneno imetokea, blame it on me,” said the President.

“Mimi ndiye nilitafutana na Gideon. I told him, tafadhali kuja, because the destiny of Kenya is far greater than what either of us can get.”

The Kabarak meeting, attended by senior Kenya Kwanza officials, KANU leaders, and local elders, symbolised more than a handshake. It was a signal that the once-frosty relationship between the Ruto and Moi political camps could be thawing ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Mr Moi said his withdrawal from the race followed a personal appeal from the President, who pledged to revive development projects in Baringo.

He said the president also promised to integrate KANU into the government’s unity framework.

“I told him I wanted to help my people … many projects I did not finish during my first term,” said Mr Moi.

“He told me, ‘I will take it upon myself to do it.’ Since he is the Head of State and he gave me that promise, I accepted to step down.”

He added that he invited the President to Kabarak so that his supporters could hear directly from him, ending speculation that he had been coerced.

“We are here because you all know what happened on Thursday,” he said.

“I was very ready for the race, and you were ready too, but unfortunately, we never made it.”

KANU Secretary-General George Wainaina described the meeting as a turning point for the party, saying it had chosen cooperation over confrontation.

“I've never seen our chairman in such a humble and open mood,” said Mr Wainaina.

“This is the beginning of a new chapter for KANU and for our country.”

The by-election was triggered by the death of Senator William Kipkorir Cheptumo, who passed away in February 2025 while under treatment at Nairobi Hospital.  Cheptumo had defeated Mr Moi in the 2022 Senate race.

With Mr Moi now out, Kiprono Chemitei, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate, is among those expected to benefit from KANU’s withdrawal from the contest.

Dr Ruto praised Mr Moi’s gesture as a sign of maturity and vision.

“We must now move forward as one people. Leadership is not about who comes from which family or party—it’s about serving Kenyans," he said.

The Kabarak visit carried immense symbolism. For years, relations between the two leaders were strained, shaped by political history and family legacies. Mr Moi, the son of Kenya’s second President Daniel arap Moi, has often represented a continuation of the KANU political establishment, while Dr Ruto, who cut his teeth under KANU’s youth wing in the 1990s, rose to prominence as part of a generation that rebelled against the old order.

Their rivalry deepened after the dissolution of the United Republican Party (URP) and KANU’s decision to back the opposition in the 2017 General Election.

For a long time, the two men rarely shared a political platform. Friday’s reunion therefore marked a reconciliation many in the Rift Valley once thought impossible.

Their cooperation could therefore stabilise local politics and give KANU a new lease of life ahead of 2027.

Mr Moi, for his part, said his withdrawal was not the end of his political journey.

“I believe this is not the end of my journey…it’s a new beginning,” he said to applause.

“We must always choose unity over division. This is what I've chosen to do.”

As the two leaders clasped hands under the Kabarak sun, the message was clear… that the Rift Valley’s political map is shifting once again.

What began as a simple meeting between old rivals may now evolve into one of the most consequential partnerships in Kenya’s next political chapter.