While Nakuru Bleeds, Kihika Plays Politics , A Governor’s Return Shrouded in Pettiness
Read Time:3 Minute, 29 Second
After nearly half a year of public absence, Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika finally emerged from the political shadows.
Having spent five months abroad, reportedly on maternity leave following the birth of her twins, Kihika returned not with policy, not with accountability, not with a plan, but with propaganda.
In a highly publicized appearance on Kiogi’s Corner podcast, she chose to zero in on a convenient distraction: her political nemesis, Senator Tabitha Karanja Keroche.
Rather than address the glaring crisis in Nakuru’s health sector, the abandoned projects, or the public’s justified outcry over a county seemingly on autopilot, Kihika took to the microphone to push a tone-deaf narrative: that Senator Tabitha was unwell and seeking treatment in London.
She delivered the news with forced piety, asking Nakuru residents to “pray” for her rival’s recovery. But no amount of sanctimony could hide the malice simmering beneath the surface.
Let’s be honest: this wasn’t a prayer request. This was a political dig. A thinly veiled attempt to paint the senator as weak, absent, and unable to lead, ironically, the very accusations Kihika herself faces from a constituency exhausted by her prolonged silence.
While Kihika was comfortably abroad, Nakuru Level Five Hospital descended into a state of dysfunction. Over 60 medics left, leaving behind a skeletal staff unable to handle the patient load.
Mothers died during childbirth, ICU units were full, and reports surfaced that expired drugs, worth nearly Sh1.8 million, were being handed to patients. This isn’t just mismanagement; it’s negligence bordering on criminal.
A young mother, Elizabeth Wairimu, lost her life after complications in childbirth. Her death wasn’t due to rare medical failure, it was the result of a broken system.
A system that Governor Kihika oversees. Yet not once during her podcast appearance did she acknowledge these failings. No apology. No empathy. No plan.
Beyond health, a laundry list of county projects now sit in ruins or remain perpetually “ongoing.” Market stalls that should be generating income for small traders gather dust. The promised trauma center at the hospital? Still a dream.
Residents of Nakuru have been left to wonder whether the governor ever truly clocked into office, whether she’s in charge or merely moonlighting as a ceremonial figurehead.
The Deputy Governor, David Kones, took charge in her absence, but his role remained unclear and unformalized.
The county operated in a fog, with residents petitioning the County Assembly to tell them what was going on. Transparency died a silent death in Nakuru.
By focusing on Senator Karanja’s health, Kihika exploited personal tragedy for political mileage. Whether or not the senator is in London for treatment, as Kihika claims, is beside the point.
The governor had one chance to reassure her constituents that leadership had returned, that Nakuru had someone at the helm. Instead, she used that moment to land a cheap shot.
This isn’t leadership. It’s opportunism wrapped in a prayer shawl.
What does it say about our county leadership when a returning governor’s first instinct is to castigate instead of console, deflect instead of deliver? It tells us that the people’s welfare is secondary to political scorekeeping.
Governor Kihika should be on the ground, walking the halls of Nakuru Level Five Hospital, inspecting expired drug stores, meeting with bereaved families, cracking the whip on idle contractors, and explaining to the public how Sh900 million in hospital-generated revenue was handled. But instead, she is podcast-hopping, hawking rumors.
Nakuru residents deserve a governor who leads from the front, not one who disappears in times of crisis, only to return slinging gossip about a fellow elected leader
The people of Nakuru have been patient. Too patient. But patience is not a blank cheque.
If Governor Susan Kihika wants to salvage her dwindling political capital, she must stop the blame games, drop the petty politics, and get to work. Otherwise, the next election will not be about her opponent’s health, it will be a referendum on her failure to govern.
And unlike a podcast, the ballot has no edit button.
With a knack for captivating storytelling, Amos Lumbasi has a talent for crafting narratives that resonate with readers. He combines meticulous research with a captivating writing style to create articles that are both informative and enjoyable to read.
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