Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika has broken her silence following days of speculation on social media about her whereabouts.
Rumours began circulating on the X platform after the governor was last seen leaving the country, sparking concern and curiosity among her constituents.
One user, in a lighthearted attempt to address the mystery, created a mock “Missing Person” poster, humorously asking for any information on the governor’s location. The post quickly went viral, fueling further speculation online.
In a press release issued earlier today, Governor Kihika clarified that she is on maternity leave, a development confirmed by her Chief of Staff, Peter Ketyenye.
In the statement, she assured Nakuru residents that the county’s leadership is running smoothly, with Deputy Governor H.E. David Kones currently overseeing her duties. Governor Kihika also announced that she plans to resume her responsibilities in the coming weeks.
“Following numerous calls that I have received regarding my absence, I want to first of all assure the people of Nakuru that I am well and currently on maternity leave,” said Kihika.
“I wholeheartedly assure them that service delivery in our Great County is proceeding as envisaged under the able guidance of the team led by Deputy Governor David Kones.”
However, the revelation has sparked mixed reactions on social media.
While many have extended their congratulations to the governor, others have voiced their frustration, criticising government officials who seek medical care abroad. The governor was last seen boarding a plane to the United States.
Critics argued that such actions highlight disparities in access to quality healthcare between public officials and the ordinary citizens they serve.
“Vindicated. Congratulations! When your leave comes to an end, equip PGH Nakuru & Open up War Memorial so that our moms who cannot afford to deliver in the US can also get dignified services locally,” one X user wrote in response to the governor’s statement.
The county government has made no comment on the criticism.
The governor further confirmed that she would be returning to her official duties in the coming weeks.
“I will be resuming official duties at the end of my leave in the next few weeks,” she concluded.
This comes after the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) placed Nakuru County as the largest economy in the country, overtaking Kiambu County.
According to the 2024 Gross County Product (GCP) report, Nakuru’s economy grew to 785.75 billion shillings in 2023, contributing 5.7 per cent to Kenya’s GDP, up from 4.9 per cent in 2019.
Dispute criticism, Governor Kihika has continued to inform her constituents on county work on her Facebook page despite being on leave.
