Nakuru activist Evans Kimori writes to US President Trump, seeking intervention for Governor Susan Kihika’s return to Kenya; she has been absent from office for five months.
Evans Kimori is a man on a mission, and in order to elevate his voice, he is choosing an unusual path. Kimori, who is frustrated by what he describes as a lack of leadership in Nakuru County, has written to former US President Donald Trump, requesting that he deport Governor Susan Kihika. He maintains that it is important despite the fact that it is an unusual step, claiming that Kihika has neglected her responsibilities while living comfortably overseas.
Kihika, who was elected in 2022, has reportedly been in the United States seeking maternity and newborn medical care. While Kenyan law allows for maternity leave for up to 90 days, Kimori claims she has been gone for nearly five months, leaving the county in limbo. He claims that public services, particularly healthcare, have suffered as a result of the controversial closure of War Memorial Hospital.
Kimori asks in his petition, "What kind of leadership is this?" She receives world-class treatment in the United States, yet those who elected her struggle to obtain even basic healthcare. This is not what Nakuru locals signed up for.
Many people share his frustration. A petition calling for an inquiry into the governor's extended absence was submitted to the Nakuru County Assembly only a few days ago. Kihika's legal issues are still becoming worse in the interim. When her government disregarded court instructions for the disposal of rubbish in Lake Nakuru, the Environment and Land Court in February sentenced her to six months in prison or a fine of Ksh two million for contempt.
Despite rising criticism, Kihika has stayed silent on the matter. Her only public appearance in recent weeks was in images provided by former senator Millicent Omanga, who visited her in the United States. The photographs merely fuelled curiosity, prompting doubts about when and if she planned to return.
Although it may seem unlikely, Kimori's petition captures a deeper level of frustration among the residents of Nakuru. It remains to be seen if Trump will ever notice it or take action, but one thing is certain: Susan Kihika's absence is now an entirely political storm rather than a minor worry.