Residents of Nakuru County have given the County Assembly a 14-day ultimatum to clarify who is running the county government in the wake of Governor Susan Kihika's prolonged absence from public duties.
The residents, who presented a formal petition to the County Assembly on Thursday, are demanding accountability, arguing that the governor has been absent from key county affairs without any official explanation beyond her maternity leave, which they say should have ended by now.
Nakuru residents at the County Assembly on March 20, 2025 where they filed a petition demanding answers to the prolonged absence of Governor Susan Kihika.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation
Led by Kimori Evans, the petitioners insist that the County Assembly summon Ms Kihika or her representatives to publicly disclose her whereabouts and explain her prolonged absence from critical county events.
They argue that her prolonged absence has created a leadership vacuum that has led to infighting between County Secretary Samuel Mwaura and Deputy Governor David Kones, who have both claimed authority in various instances.
Nakuru residents at the County Assembly on March 20, 2025 where they filed a petition demanding answers to the prolonged absence of Governor Susan Kihika.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation
Mr Kimori noted that the last time Governor Kihika was seen in public was on November 18, 2024 when she presided over a graduation ceremony for students at Nakuru Vocational Training Centres.
Since then, Mr Kones has taken over various functions traditionally performed by the governor.
For example, on December 20, 2024, he flagged off a consignment of medical supplies, a task that residents said required Ms Kihika's presence because of its importance to the county's health sector.
Mr Kimori also pointed out that unlike previous years, she failed to address Nakuru residents directly during the New Year celebrations.
Nakuru residents at the County Assembly on March 20, 2025 where they filed a petition demanding answers to the prolonged absence of Governor Susan Kihika.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation
Instead, she posted a brief message on social media, which residents said was insufficient given the challenges facing the county.
“The county is facing serious issues yet she is nowhere to be seen. Who is making the critical decisions? Who is running the county? We need answers,” Mr Kimori said.
On May 19, 2024, she failed to attend Egerton University’s tree planting exercise and the launch of seven school buses, which was attended by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and two principal secretaries.
They allege that while the county continues to face crises that require decisive leadership, the governor has been absent, leaving residents to fend for themselves without clear guidance or intervention from the county government.
“Today we are exercising the County Government Act No 15 of 2012. Our demands are to the county assembly of Nakuru; we want a full disclosure of the governor's whereabouts. The assembly should summon the governor to explain where she has been. We know she said that she is on maternity leave, but we are the ones who raised the question, hence the press release,” he said.
Apart from administrative concerns, residents also accused Ms Kihika of failing to address pressing social and security issues in Nakuru.
They cited her silence over missing fisherman Brian Odhiambo, a case of suspected extrajudicial killing.
Despite the gravity of the situation, they said, the county boss has neither issued a public statement nor taken any visible action to address concerns raised by Odhiambo’s family and human rights activists.
Alvy Aoko and Glen Shivachi sign the petition at the Nakuru County Assembly on March 20, 2025 demanding answers to the prolonged absence of Governor Susan Kihika.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation
Another disturbing case raised in the petition is the mysterious disappearance of Mercy Chepngeno’s body from the mortuary at Nakuru Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Her parents believe there may have been a body swap and suspect their daughter might still be alive. Despite widespread public outrage and calls for a thorough investigation, Ms Kihika has remained silent.
In response to the growing speculation, Nakuru County Chief of Staff Peter Ketyenya issued a statement on February 17, 2025 revealing that Ms Kihika was on maternity leave.
But residents remain sceptical, arguing that the prolonged silence and lack of clear timelines have only fuelled uncertainty.
On Wednesday, Nakuru East MP Samuel Arama dismissed concerns over the county boss' absence, urging leaders and residents to stop politicising the issue.
He insisted that the governor was within her rights to take maternity leave and that her decision to give birth abroad should not be questioned.
“She is on leave; it was her decision to choose where she wanted to give birth. Let’s agree here that if you have any problem that you want the governors’ office to address and you do not get help, come to me or Nakuru East MP David Gikaria and we will sort you,” he said during a meeting in Shabaab area.
