Gideon Moi

Gideon Kipsiele Towett 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 ^{[1] [2]}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. His siblings include; Phillip Moi, Jonathan Moi (April 2019), John Mark Moi, Raymond Moi (MP for Rongai), Jennifer Jemutai Kositany, Doris Moi, June Moi.^[3]

Early life[]

Gideon Moi has 7 siblings namely: Doris Moi, Jennifer Jemutai Kositany, June Moi,Raymond Moi, Jonathan Toroitich, Philip Moi, John Mark Moi.^[4]

Personal life[]

Family[]

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

Moi has played polo for the Gilgil-based Manyatta club.^[5]

Uniquely for Kenyan politicians, Moi has managed to keep his personal life private.^[6][7]

In 2020 February, Gideon Moi, Lost his father, the former President of Kenya, Daniel Arap Moi.^[8] In 2004, July, he lost his Mother Lena Moi who was wife to former President of Kenya Daniel Arap Moi.^[9]

Wealth[]

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 US$550 million.^[10] The scale of corruption carried out in Kenya by family and associates of its former president, Daniel Arap Moi, has been revealed in a secret report which alleges that more than £1 billion of government money was stolen during his 24-year rule.

Mr Moi’s regime, which came to an end in 2002, has long been regarded as one of Africa’s most corrupt, but the extent of the graft has never been exposed in so much detail. The 110-page report by international risk consultants Kroll details assets still allegedly owned by the Moi family and their entourage in 28 countries, including hotels and residences in South Africa and the United States, a 10,000-hectare ranch in Australia, three hotels in London, a £4 million house in Surrey, and a £2 million penthouse flat in Knightsbridge.It claims the Moi family laundered $400 million through a complex web of accounts in Kenya, Geneva and Frankfurt. It also alleged that they and a handful of associates own a bank in Belgium that was used to launder money from Kenya and uncovered a web of secret bank accounts, shell companies and dummy trusts registered in tax havens, including the Cayman Islands. Moi’s sons, Philip and Gideon, were reported to be worth £384m and £550m respectively.

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, 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.^[11]

His party recently formed a coalition agreement with the ruling party to work together within and outside parliament.

References[]