Politics not my agenda, Gideon says over Rift Valley tours

Baringo Senator and Kanu chairman Gideon Moi says his tour of the Rift Valley is not political.

The senator said he was visiting parts of the region to understand and address problems bedeviling residents.

Gideon Saturday said that as a leader, he has been playing his role well by going to the grassroots to give an ear to residents.

“As a leader, I have been engaged in tours within the greater Rift to understand issues touching on the people. There has been an outcry by Rift Valley residents that they have been abandoned by their leaders,” he said Saturday in an interview with The Standard on Sunday.

The senator has for the last six months toured parts of Rift Valley, leading to speculations that he was consolidating his support base in the region to contest the presidency in the next General Election.

Farmers’ woes

“These are baseless speculations. This is not time for politics,” he said. He cited the current challenge North Rift farmers are facing in selling their produce such as maize as the reason he has been meeting farmers in the region.

Gideon said his visits to Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia were meant to get a first-hand information on issues affecting farmers that the government has failed to address.

He said for the last one month, farmers have been calling on the government to release funds to the National Cereals and Produce Board to enable it buy their maize.

“Farmers are crying and the government is ignoring them. As a responsible leader, I have to listen to them and channel their grievances to the government,” said Gideon.

He urged leaders in the Rift Valley to come together and address challenges facing residents, especially maize farmers.

“This is the lifeline of the region and leaders should concentrate their efforts in sorting out the mess where our farmers have no place to sell their produce leaving them at the mercy of brokers who exploit them,” said Gideon.

He dismissed the perception that he was creating a parallel power base in Rift Valley through his visits. “Our people do not feed on politics. It is not time for politics but work. It is unfortunate some leaders link my visits to politics,” he said.

He added: “As leaders, we should not play cheap politics and disparage each other in public.”

On Friday March 20, Gideon officiated the opening of a library and later launched a school bus at St Catherine Girls in Uasin Gishu while last Friday, he presided over a fundraiser at Kalya Primary School in West Pokot.

Apart from visits to North Rift, Gideon has also raised funds in the South Rift for schools and women groups. “This is all meant to address needs of the people,” he said.

He has also been engaged in peace initiatives between feuding communities in Baringo.

“Insecurity continue to bedevil areas inhabited by our pastoral communities and it is upon elected leaders together with community elders to come together and find the way forward,” he said.