Baringo Senator Gideon Moi has finally moved out of his father’s house and embarked on a serious mission to win the trust of William Ruto’s backyard Uasin Gishu county.
For a second successive visit in one month, the former President Moi’s son over the weekend continued to pitch tents in the rich vote Uasin gishu county and holding consultative meetings with the locals and a number of leaders from the region.
On Saturday, Gideon Moi popularized his 2022 bid when he hosted five prominent personalities from Kalenjin community at his Ziwa home in Uasin Gishu.
Although Gideon distanced his visit to the county from early campaigns, the presence of political heavyweights led by Uasin Gishu politician and Jubilee defect Zedekiah Bundotich alias Buzeki, West Pokot Senator Samuel Poghisio, MPs Joshua Kandie (Baringo Central), William Kamket (Tiaty) and Silas Tiren (Moiben), could, however, raise eyebrows.
While Deputy President Dr William Ruto spent his Saturday at Trans Nzoia and Bungoma, his main challenger from Rift Valley Gideon Moi pitched tent at Ziwa home in Uasin Gishu, the home county of the DP pic.twitter.com/JyCBnwTL6h
— Daily Trends KE (@DailyTrendsKE1) June 23, 2019
Gideon insisted that his presence in the county was courtesy of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government agendas of spreading unity and calling for an end to early campaigns in the country.
He urged the delegation garnered from Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo-Marakwet and West Pokot counties to support President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Big Four agenda and shun away from cheap politics aimed at dividing the nation before 2022.
Notably present at Gideon’s function was West Pokot Senator Samuel Poghisio who has long alone been deemed as William Ruto’s close friend. The former cabinet minister ditched Jubilee in 2017 elections to vie on a Kanu ticket but had since been William Ruto’s close friend.
Gideon’s presence at Ruto’s home county was however castigated by some residents who accused the Senator of taking advantage of Uhuru’s call for development agendas popularize his 2022 candidature
While Gideon was in the county of Uasin Gishu, his bitter rival William Ruto was in the neighbouring counties of Trans Nzoia and Bungoma launching government projects and unveiling new ones.
Ruto’s visit to the county came as a big win after the area county Governor Patrick Khaemba who was Ruto’s host promised him full support in his bid to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta in the 2022 polls.
While assuring him of the region’s support, Khaemba said that the Luyha community had wholly resolved to rally behind Ruto in a bid to secure a slot in his government after the much-awaited 2022 elections.
“We have resolved to chat our own political destiny. We will support the DP so as to be part of the next government,” said Khaemba as quoted by a local daily.
With residents of Cheptais, Mount Elgon, Bungoma County. pic.twitter.com/N7c9mfzwrQ
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) June 22, 2019
“We are focused on delivering a united, prosperous Kenya that caters for the wellbeing of the population; empowers wananchi and enables us to live as one people,” said Ruto at the function.
Trans Nzoia county which is largely made up of the Luyha and Kalenjin communities voted for the Nasa coalition in 2017 general elections.
On Sunday, the Deputy President flew to Vihiga county where he was joined by other leaders at Boyani ADC headquarters for the Sunday service. The DP is expected to spread the Tanga-tanga gospel later in the day.
Now in Vihiga at Boyani ADC headquarters in the company of the DP Dr @WilliamsRuto together with 8 MPs & host of MCAs. Man, it is sizzling! pic.twitter.com/H3Ro72yylN
— Dr Boni Khalwale, CBS (@KBonimtetezi) June 23, 2019