Susan Kihika On Maternity Leave In The U.S.

Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika, 51, has reassured Kenyans that she is well and away on maternity leave.

Her statement follows concerns by the public over her absence at county events for a prolonged period.

The last time the vibrant Governor was seen in public was in Early November last year during the graduation of more than 4000 students from different Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVETs) in Nakuru.

Her absence from administrative duties sparked anger among residents of Nakuru who went to social media asking questions about how she was running the county remotely.

The concerns erupted when a poster titled ‘Missing Person’ was circulated on social media platforms in the last 48 hours.

“Missing Person; Governor Susan Kihika; 51 years old; last seen three months ago boarding a plane to the USA. She has not returned to Kenya since,” read the poster in part.

The designed poster humorously urged anyone who had seen Kihika to inform her that the USA was not Nakuru County or call the county government.

The poster attracted reactions from Kenyans who claimed that Kihika had relocated to the USA while others claimed that she had been running the county government from abroad.

Others even joked that she might have been abducted.

There was a similar long silence in 2023 with people on social media claiming she was critically ill and under treatment abroad.

Others claimed that she was preparing her retirement home in the United States of America.

In her statement following the outrage, Governor Kihika indicated that she would be resuming her official duties after her maternity leave in a few weeks.

“Following numerous calls that I have received regarding my absence, as an elected Governor of Nakuru County, i want to assure the people that I am well and currently on maternity leave,” she said.

She thanked the people for their concern and maintained that service delivery in the county was proceeding as envisaged under the guidance of her deputy, David Kones.

Kihika who travelled to the U.S. months in advance before giving birth has left many critics wondering whether he has faith in the Kenya’s healthcare system.

Some netizens on social media have humorously or sarcastically commented on her choice, suggesting implications about the state of healthcare in Kenya or her priorities.

The choice to give birth abroad has led to discussions about the quality and reliability of healthcare in Kenya, particularly about the “SHA” (possibly referring to a local healthcare system or policy) and the “Linda Mama” initiative, which aims to provide free maternity services.

Kenyans have questioned her commitment to local issues, implying that if she can’t trust the local healthcare system, how can she advocate for improvements or represent the interests of Nakuru residents effectively?

Others have pointed out her dual citizenship and her intention to secure US citizenship for her child.

A child born in the U.S. automatically gains U.S. citizenship. This could be seen as a strategic move for future opportunities, including education, travel, and business, providing the child with dual citizenship advantages.

Kihika is a dual citizen of America and Kenya.