UDA Candidate Upsets Raymond Moi In Rongai MP Race

Raymond Moi, whose father is the late President Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi, lost his Rongai Member of Parliament (MP) seat to United Democratic (UDA) candidate Paul Chebor.

In one of the major shocks of the by-elections, Raymond, who was aiming to defend his seat on a Kenya African National Union (KANU) party ticket, amassed 14,725 votes against Cheboi's 27,021 votes. Luka Kigen of Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM) followed with 593 votes.

The constituency had 84,625 registered voters, according to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), but registered a turnout of less than 70 per cent.

UDA Rongai MP-elect, Paul Chebor. /TWITTER

Raymond's loss came after his younger brother, Gideon Moi, lost to William Cheptumo in Baringo in the senate race, marking the end of the Moi family's dominance in elective politics in the Rift Valley region.

"I blame IEBC, why do the elected leaders, MPs, Senators and Governor have access to the polling stations, why do they have the commission badges," he was left wondering during the voting exercise on Monday, August 29 with regards to alleged voter bribery and intimidations.

Raymond nonetheless could not stop UDA's so-called 'Yellow Wave' in the Rift Valley region, with his opponent backed by his father's allies. Among them were Deputy President-elect Rigathi Gachagua and Lee Njiru, Moi's longest-serving press secretary.

"I thank the people of Rongai for believing in me. I promise to deliver and I will not let them down. I promise to work with all the residents irrespective of whether they voted for me or not," Chebor stated after he received his certificate.

Raymond was first elected on a KANU ticket in 2013 and he successfully defended his seat for a second term in 2017. 

Chebor's win marks the ninth out of Nakuru's 11 elective positions in the National Assembly UDA has secured. However, the Azimio la Umoja coalition still holds an advantage over UDA and Kenya Kwanza in the National Assembly.

Azimio now boasts of 165 members while Kenya Kwanza moves to 160 from 159, despite some of the Azimio members moving to Kenya Kwanza.