Gideon Moi breaks silence on fallout with Ruto, cites unfulfilled promises

KANU Chairman Gideon Moi has accused President William Ruto of failing to honour an agreement reached between them last year, saying the dispute has strained relations between the two leaders.

Speaking during a meeting with Kalenjin elders at his Kabarak home in Nakuru County on Friday, Moi outlined what he described as the terms of the agreement that led him to step aside in the Baringo senatorial by-election late last year.

One year after their widely publicised rapprochement in October last year, Moi broke his silence on the renewed political differences between him and Ruto.

Moi said he had sought commitments on development projects for Baringo residents rather than personal benefits.

“In everything, I didn’t ask for a personal thing. I want this, I want this business… no. I asked for specific things for the people of Baringo that I had not accomplished,” he said.

Moi, who spoke in his Kalenjin dialect, said relations began deteriorating following the death of former Prime Minister leader Raila Odinga, claiming that a promised resolution to their agreement was repeatedly delayed.

“Raila’s death came up… he told me, ‘Wait for some time, we finish this matter.’ I waited and waited until now,” Moi noted.

The former Baringo Senator accused Ruto of failing to complete development projects in the county, which he said had formed part of their agreement.

Moi also dismissed claims by the President that he was using the Standard Group media house to settle political scores, insisting that the accusations were a distraction from the agreement.

“For me, this is pedestrian talk. Side shows. Implement what the agreement was. He said, ‘Gideon this, Gideon this. The sponsor of these people is Gideon.’ Do I look like a journalist, that I am writing the headlines at night?” Posed Moi.

Moi also apologised to his community, describing his decision to work with Ruto as a misstep and asking Kalenjin elders to forgive him as he considers his next political move.

“Please forgive me… my Kalenjin people, I did what I did with a clean heart,” stated Moi.

The remarks come months after Ruto publicly accused Moi of sponsoring opposition activities, including through newspaper headlines that the President said were aimed at undermining his administration.

“Kama si hizo headlines za Gideon Moi za Standard, hakuna mahali mngekuwa,” Ruto stated then.