Susan Kihika unseats Lee Kinyanyui in Nakuru
By Shadrack Nyakoe, August 12, 2022
Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika has beaten the incumbent Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanyui to become the first woman Governor in the county.
Kihika was contesting on a United Democratic Alliance party ticket with her running mate Pastor David Kones.
Kihika garnered 440,707 votes to clinch the county’s top job while her closest rival, the seating governor Lee Kinyanyui of Jubilee Party scooped 225,623 votes.
The hotly contested seat attracted six contestants including two independent candidates Stanley Karanja and Elijah Chege, and former Nakuru Senator James Laurie.
The county returning officer J Mele on declaring Kihika’s victory said Nakuru had not experienced any malpractices and had maintained peace from day one of the elections to the announcement of winners except in Kuresoi where they rushed with the county commander Peter Mwanzo to restore order.
Kihika thanked Nakuru residents for voting for her and pledged to take the county to the next level in development.
“It’s a happy day for us, the victory is for us all. I welcome all my rivals we form the next government together. Nakuru has changed and women leadership is taking shape from the top position, senate, woman representative and MPs,” Kihika said.
She was alluding that Nakuru voters elected Tabitha Karanja alias Keroche as a senator with four constituencies considering women leadership.
Bahati constituency chose Irene Njoki, Naivasha took Jane Kihara, Njoro voted for Charity Kathambi and Gilgil went for M Wangari as their legislators.
Kihika also thanked her husband who supported her bid.