Senator Susan Kihika Petitioned to Prove She is Kenyan

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Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika, the daughter of former Nakuru North MP Dickson Kihika
File

A petition seeking to have the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) compel Nakuru Senator, Susan Kihika, to prove she is a Kenyan citizen, has thrown spanner in the works for the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate.

The petitioner, Joseph Kimani Njuguna, wants IEBC to block Kihika from contesting for the Nakuru gubernatorial seat on grounds that she is not a Kenyan citizen by the virtual of having studied and lived in the United States.

But the Nakuru Senator sneered at the claims hinting that the citizenship debacle was only brought up by individuals who want to intimidate her out of the race.

Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika during a campaign rally in Nakuru on Thursday June 8, 2022
Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika during a campaign rally in Nakuru on Thursday, June 8, 2022
Kihika FB page

Kihika questioned why the petitioner moved to IEBC now when she had already vied for the Nakuru Senatorial seat successfully.

"So, as a Senator I was Kenyan but now that I am going for governorship I am not Kenyan? It's all right, God is watching you," she wrote on Twitter.

Njuguna alleged that Kihika renounced her Kenyan citizenship in 2003 and acquired United States citizenship.

“Having lost her Kenya citizenship, the said Susan Wakahura Kihika was required under Section 10 of the Citizenship and Immigration Act Cap 172 of the Laws of Kenya to apply in the prescribed manner in order to regain citizenship of Kenya,” read the petition.

“Section 8(4) of the Citizenship and Immigration Act makes it an offence for a duo citizen who fails to disclose his/her other citizenship in the prescribed manners."

Njuguna argued that the former Nakuru County Assembly Speaker contravenes the Constitution in her quest to become the governor.

“I, therefore, request that the said Susan Wakahura Kihika be barred from contesting the upcoming General Election of August 2022 in the position of Governor Nakuru County."

Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa (Left), Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika (centre) and Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen
Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa (Left), Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika (centre) and Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen
Twitter

Elsewhere, two petitioners moved to the High Court challenging the clearance of Malindi Member of Parliament, Aisha Jumwa, to vie for the Kilifi gubernatorial seat. 

The petitioners are seeking a judicial review of Jumwa’s academic papers. Notably, the IEBC concluded the hearing of complaints by dissatisfied aspirants.