Moi Gives URP Sleepless Nights Over Rift Valley Politics

A fierce political duel raged on after Baringo Senator and KANU Chairman Gideon Moi vowed to take on Deputy President William Ruto politically in  the next general election.

Mr. Moi and his Elgeyo Marakwet counterpart Kipchumba Murkomen traded barbs over the issue of political dominance in the region, further stretching the political rift in the Rift Valley.

Cracks are now appearing in relations between previously close political parties, and some of the political bigwigs making clear their intentions as they position themselves to become the region’s political heavyweights.

The alleged early campaign for the country’s top job by KANU chairman Gideon Moi, the son of retired President Daniel Arap Moi, has made URP leaders in his backyard uncomfortable.

Working with politicians of choice

Senator Moi is said to be making inroads into the North Rift, the home turf of the Deputy President, with key visits and what pundits have described as political tactics to woo the vote rich region with his bag of goodies but he maintains there is nothing out of the ordinary in his latest move.

However, West Pokot Senator John Lonyang’apuo has warned that if URP members will continue using abusive language when addressing KANU members, they will be forced to quit the Jubilee Alliance, and reduce the Jubilee’s tyranny of numbers.

Moi’s latest political drive has been linked with Bomet Governor Isaac Rutto’s toughened stance that has seen the chair of the council of governors become more vocal about his disagreement with his Jubilee Alliance Party and especially the Deputy President as he strives to be the lynchpin in the area.

But Senator Moi says he is entitled to work with anyone while his lieutenants say he is ripe for the country’s top job. But Murkomen of URP has said that KANU should focus on development instead of launching early campaigns.

It would seem the clamor for political dominance in the Rift Valley region is on, with the eyes of all the major players there firmly fixed on the top prize in the 2017 General Election.