Gideon Moi

Gideon Moi (born 22 October 1963) is a Kenyan politician who has served in the Senate of Kenya, representing Baringo County, since 2013. He was elected with a landslide win of over 80%, trouncing his opponent Jackson Kosgei. He is also the Chairman of the Kenya African National Union (KANU), which for decades was the ruling party in Kenya. He is the youngest son of Kenya's second president, Daniel arap Moi, and Lena Moi.

Personal life

Moi is married to Zahra, with whom he has three children: Kimoi, Kigen and Lulu.

Moi has played polo for the Gilgil-based Manyatta club.^[1]

Uniquely for Kenyan politicians, Moi has managed to keep his personal life private.

Presidential ambitions

Moi is the leader of KANU political party in Kenya. A favoured son of Kenya's former president, he has been groomed as a presidential candidate by his father. In 2017 general elections, he rallied KANU to support Uhuru Kenyatta for a second term, despite Moi's unease for the candidature which also included his political nemesis and fellow tribesman, William Samoei Arap Ruto.

Moi has announced his intentions and is expected to run in the 2022 Kenyan presidential elections, which will test his political abilities and his ability to fundraise, either from his wealth or from his supporters. Even though he is not now seen as popular as Ruto, it is worth noting there is no national audience poll with him head to head with Ruto. He has continued to serve as a senator and Chairman of the Senate ICT Committee instead of the Cabinet Secretary in Uhuru Kenyatta's government, which was speculated in January 2018.^[2]

Controversy

In August 2007, The Guardian reported that the Kroll report, commissioned in 2004 by President Mwai Kibaki to trace assets of people who were suspected of looting the state, listed Gideon Moi. It reported that Moi was worth USD 550 million.^[3]

References