End of an era as Gideon Moi loses Baringo Senate seat

Baringo Senator Gideon Moi lost his seat after William Cheptumo was declared the winner in the senatorial race.

Cheptumo, who vied under a UDA ticket, has been serving as Baringo North MP for 15 years.

He trounced Moi after garnering 141,777 votes, while the Senator came second with 71,408 votes. The Service Party Party(TSP) candidate Felix Chelaite scored 3,261.

"I thank my people for electing me to serve them for the next five years as their Senator," Cheptumo said.

He spoke while he was handed his certificate by the Independent Electoral Boundary Commission (IEBC) county returning officer John Mwangi at the Kenya School of Government (KSG) Baringo on Friday.

However, Gideon, son of former late president Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi neither attended the ceremony nor showed up to concede defeat.

He (Gideon) was the only son of late Mzee Moi who has been trusted to hold the leadership of Baringo since the demise of his father.

"Now Moi's family is over, freedom has come" a resident whispered. Gideon had earlier had difficulty explaining why he gets votes and ever goes missing instead of standing with the people.

Cheptumo however pledged to unite the residents and fellow elected county leaders to fight the persistent insecurity occasioned by banditry and cattle rustling.

She was backed by the county elected woman representative Florence Jematia and Governor elect Benjamin Cheboi.

Jematia said it is only until we end the incessant banditry, "so we can embark on development here in Baringo" Jematia said.

Cheboi garnered 137,486 votes to unseat the incumbent one term governor Stanley Kiptis who got 17, 646 votes.Former Eldama-Ravine MP Moses Lessonet came second garnering 60,879 votes.

Jematia also garnered landslide 144,039 votes to send home the incumbent KANU competitor Gladwel Cheruiyot who scored 40,302 votes.

Independent candidate Naomi Toronto, Rebecca Lomong of Kenya United Party(KUP) and Sarah Chepkorir of Chama Cha Mashinani(CCM) scored 25,523, 25,129 and 4,605 respectively.