President William Ruto has announced that the Kenya African National Union (KANU), led by Chairman Gideon Moi, will officially join his broad-based government — a significant political realignment that signals deepening cooperation between former rivals.
Speaking during a visit to Moi’s Kabarak home on Friday, President Ruto confirmed that Mr. Moi withdrew from the Baringo senatorial race at his request, saying the move was part of a wider plan to unify the country’s political forces.
“I have looked for Gideon to help me pull this country out of the third world, so that we can have a progressive nation,” Ruto declared to applause from the gathering, which included senior KANU officials and local leaders.
The President, in a lighter moment, joked that he was well-acquainted with the Kabarak compound, having visited it several times during the tenure of the late former President Daniel arap Moi.
“I know this home so well; I think I qualify as part of the Moi family,” he quipped, drawing laughter from the crowd.
Ruto defended Moi’s decision to step down, describing it as a strategic sacrifice for national unity.
“After the Kabarnet anger, I told him the best place to make our announcement to the public was here at Kabarak,” he added, referencing recent political tension in Baringo.
In his remarks, Mr. Moi struck a conciliatory tone, joking that the President had “washed him clean,” before emphasizing that peace and collaboration in Baringo were vital for meaningful development.
The move marks one of the most significant alliances in Kenyan politics since 2022, potentially reshaping regional dynamics ahead of the next election cycle.
