Governor Kihika returns to office after prolonged absence

Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika has officially resumed her duties after a five-month absence, chairing her first cabinet meeting of the year on Tuesday.

Her return to work follows a prolonged maternity leave, which she took after giving birth to twins late last year.

While Governor Kihika's leave was expected, her extended time away from the county and public life triggered widespread debate, particularly among residents and civic groups who questioned the prolonged absence of a key county leader.

Kihika, who had been away from the limelight since November 18, 2024, made only occasional appearances on social media, where she shared updates on ongoing development projects in Nakuru County.

Despite her absence, the governor returned to a pressing situation.

On Tuesday, she presided over a cabinet meeting, her first official engagement since her return, where the focus was on accelerating development projects and improving service delivery.

In her statement following the meeting, Governor Kihika emphasized the importance of revitalizing ongoing development initiatives.

"I chaired a cabinet meeting to give fresh impetus and direction to service delivery and completion of development projects in the county. During the meeting, we approved a development-oriented budget for the financial year 2025/2026 and agreed on the collective effort to fast-track completion of development projects under construction," Kihika stated.

"We are committed, through budgetary allocations and prudent planning, to improving delivery of government services and completing development projects for the benefit of Nakuru residents," she added, highlighting her determination to address pressing issues affecting the county’s growth.

However, Governor Kihika’s return comes amid growing criticism over the state of healthcare in Nakuru, particularly at the Nakuru Level Five Hospital.

Several residents and civil society organizations have called on the governor to take immediate action to restore stability to the health sector.

One such critic, Jesse Karanja, chairman of the People’s Power Watch, emphasized the urgency of addressing the ongoing healthcare crisis.

"Now that Governor Kihika is back, she should urgently intervene to restore sanity in the health sector, particularly at Nakuru Level Five Hospital, where two expectant mothers have died due to what their families term as negligence by the hospital’s management," Karanja said.

Karanja added that the governor's handling of the current health sector issues would have significant implications for her political future.

"How she handles the situation at Nakuru Level Five Hospital and other facilities will greatly determine how residents vote for the gubernatorial seat in 2027," he warned.

The governor’s return coincides with investigations into the mysterious disappearance of a seven-month-old baby’s body from the hospital’s mortuary, as well as the deaths of two expectant mothers, Elizabeth Wairimu and Phylis Juma, at Nakuru Level Five Hospital.

Both women passed away shortly after being admitted, leading to accusations of negligence from their families.

Wairimu, who died while waiting to be transferred to the Intensive Care Unit, was found to have died due to respiratory distress caused by lack of oxygen.

An autopsy conducted by government pathologist Dr. Titus Ngulungu and family pathologist Dr. Isak Abdi confirmed this cause of death.

"After examining her body, I have formed the opinion that she died due to lack of oxygen," stated Dr. Ngulungu in his postmortem report.

In response to the rising concerns, health authorities have acknowledged that the Nakuru Level Five Hospital is facing a significant strain on its workforce.

"The Margaret Kenyatta Mother and Baby Maternity Wing is overwhelmed. Considering the number of deliveries happening here compared to the number of nurses we have, it is severely suboptimal," Health Executive Roslyn Mungai admitted.

The hospital's difficulties have been further compounded by recent incidents that have brought national attention to its problems.

A viral video, showing patients sleeping in the cold outdoors, including elderly women, surfaced a few weeks ago, sparking outrage.

This, coupled with the mysterious disappearance of the baby’s body from the mortuary, has intensified scrutiny of the hospital's management and the overall state of healthcare in Nakuru.

Governor Kihika's return to the office is undoubtedly a critical moment for Nakuru County.

As she takes charge of her duties once again, all eyes will be on her as she seeks to address these healthcare issues and lead the county through a period of mounting pressure.