Evans Kimori, a Kenyan citizen, has written to U.S. President Donald Trump seeking the deportation of Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika, whose prolonged absence has raised concerns about service delivery in Nakuru County.
According to Kimori, Kihika's absence has created a leadership vacuum, affecting governance and public services in the devolved unit.
"Governor Kihika, elected in August 2022, has allegedly been seeking maternity and newborn medical attention in the USA for an extended period. While maternity leave is recognized under Kenyan law for up to 90 days, she has been absent for nearly five months, creating a leadership vacuum in Nakuru County," reads part of Kimori’s letter.
The engineer further informed Trump that despite the governor’s travel abroad, Nakuru residents have been struggling to access medical services, particularly following the closure of War Memorial Hospital in the county.
"Her decision to seek medical services abroad comes after her administration ordered the closure of War Memorial Hospital, a critical public healthcare facility that has served Nakuru residents since 1906. This closure, despite numerous court orders mandating its reopening, has left thousands of residents, especially mothers, children, and patients with chronic illnesses, without essential healthcare," Kimori added.
"While she enjoys advanced medical care in the U.S., the very people who elected her continue to suffer due to the collapse of local medical services under her leadership."
Furthermore, Kimori urged Trump to intervene, arguing that Kihika's prolonged absence has exacerbated the decline of critical services in Nakuru, amounting to neglect of her responsibilities despite her receiving a substantial salary.
"On behalf of the residents of Nakuru, I respectfully request your intervention in facilitating her return to Kenya so that she can resume her duties," he implored.
"The people of Nakuru deserve accountable leadership, and her continued stay in the U.S. undermines the trust and democratic mandate placed on her by the electorate."
Kihika, whose absence from the county has sparked much speculation, was recently captured in photos shared by a member of the Board of Directors of Kenya Shipyards Limited, Millicent Omanga, after she visited her in the U.S.
Additionally, the Governor has been facing legal battles in her county, ranging from county service management to environmental issues.
On February 18, the Environment and Land Court division ordered Kihika to serve a six-month jail term over contempt of a court order that had been issued to her.
The governor, alongside the Nakuru Water and Sanitation Services Company Chief Executive Officer, was ordered to serve a six-month civil jail term or pay a Ksh2M fine for contempt over unlawful waste disposal into Lake Nakuru.
On March 20, residents of Nakuru County filed a petition before the county assembly, demanding an immediate investigation into the whereabouts of the Governor.
The residents, in their petition, gave the county assembly two weeks to establish the reason for Kihika's prolonged absence from office.
