Career
Masai is from Bugaa village, four kilometres from Kapsokwony town. Born to John Barasa Masai and Leonida Cherop, he is the first born out of ten children. He started running while at Kapsogom Primary School.
Later he joined Bishop Okiring Secondary School.
He ran in the 2008 Summer Olympics and managed to finish in fourth position in the 10,000 metres final, narrowly missing out on a medal. Other siblings Dennis, Ndiema and Magdaline are also runners.
He took the World"s Best 10K title at the 2010 race in Puerto Rico, scoring a new course record of 27:19 and picking up a bonus for his fast time. He signed up for the Dam tot Damloop in September 2010 and was a close runner-up to John Mwangangi, finishing a second behind his compatriot.
He made only three appearances in 2011, running at the FBK Games, Prefontaine Classic and the World"s Best 10K, but finished outside the top five on each occasion.
In spite of his low-profile in prior seasons, he gained a place on the Kenyan Olympic team by coming second at the 10,000 m trials at 2012 Prefontaine Classic. Unfortunately, at the Olympics themselves, he could only manage a twelfth-placed finish. Masai trains with Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Sports Management.
He is not to be confused with another Kenyan runner named Moses Masai, known for running marathons and road races in Central Europe.
Personal bests 1,500 metres - 3:42.1 minimum (2005).