The Baringo Senate by-election is a do-or-die event for Gideon Moi.
It’s actually not about him, but it’s a fight for the legacy of President Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi, who ruled Kenya for 24 years, survived two “coups” in 1982 by Kenya Air Force renegades and a political one in 1992.
The 1992 political coup was deadly. Moi repealed section 2 of the constitution to make Kenya a multi-party state.
His legion of political problems, namely Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenneth Matiba, Charles Rubia, Ahmed Bamariz, Masinde Muliro, and George Nthenge, were threatening to run old Moi out of town.
Moi responded by forming the YK 92, which was led by Cyrus Jirongo, President William Ruto, and Sam Nyamweya, among others. He survived after shredding the opposition through sponsored presidential bids for Oginga, Matiba, and Mwai Kibaki.
With the lifeline afforded by the divided opposition, Moi won the popular vote again in 1997, affording him the maximum two terms (Tutam).
He retired in 2003 but hoped to retain power in the Rift Valley through KANU.
Then a final coup was executed by his protégé William Samoei Ruto, in 2007.
Ruto teamed up with ODM and Raila Odinga to clear the Rift Valley of Moi remnants, including his son Gedion Moi.
Now Gideon is at cross roads. He has to swallow his pride and work with Ruto or wait for the president to retire.
The stark reality is that Moi has gone down in the Kalenjin leadership order owing to perceptions that he’s an agent of outsiders to weaken Ruto.
Moi will be hoping that Baringo County residents will vote for him based on his development record.
UDA will want to retain the seat and send a firm warning that the Nyayo era is gone.
Given that politics is about perceptions, Gideon Moi may not get his early Christmas turkey, which he should be craving.
