DP Ruto and Senator Gideon Moi rivalry plays out at Hosea Kiplagat burial

Calls for Deputy President William Ruto and Baringo Senator Gideon Moi to unite as brothers for a common cause did not bear any fruits as each one tried to out do the other on Friday.

During the burial of Mzee Hosea Kiplagat, a former aid to the late President Daniel arap Moi, the two leaders took the opportunity to rubbish claims of rivalry.

Narok Senator Ledama Olekina had earlier on called on Senator Moi and DP Ruto to put aside their differences so as to bring the Kalenjin community together.

DP Ruto however dismissed allegations of political rivalry between him and the Senator and maintained that they were working for the common good of all Kenyans.

On his part, Senator Moi told the mourners to stop focusing on the rivalry between him and the DP.

He said that they should instead focus on development because in politics there are no permanent enemies or friends.

Both leaders claimed to have mobilised for the completion of several projects in Baringo County.

DP Ruto highlighted several roads in the region that he said were constructed by the National Government.

After his speech, he left the ceremony before it was over, proceeding for another event in Narok County.

Senator Moi then took to the podium and downplayed Dr. Ruto’s sentiments citing the same roads and insisting that they were constructed through his efforts.

Former Co-operative Bank executive chairman and Moi-era politician Hosea Kiplagat died at his Karen home on February 6, 2021.

According to the family, Kiplagat died while being rushed to a hospital in Nairobi after falling ill. He was aged 76.

He was born at Kiplabal village in Baringo County and later worked as a prison warden before he became one of President Moi’s aides in the early 80s

He was a well known businessman who unsuccessfully vied for the Baringo Central parliamentary seat in 2007 under the Safina party and 2012 on an ODM party ticket.