Women senators have come out to defend Nakuru County Governor Susan Kihika, who has been away from the country for close to five months since she travelled to the United States.

Nominated Senator Tabitha Mutinda called out critics of the governor, noting that 51-year-old Kihika did the right thing to prioritise her health and that of her twins.

“As women leaders of Kenya, we stand here together in solidarity with Governor Susan Kihika- a dedicated public servant and a mother who has recently welcomed twins into the world. We congratulate her on the birth of her children,” Mutinda said.

“We wish to remind the public that childbirth is a natural, unique and deeply personal process. As women leaders, we recognize the unique challenges that come with balancing public service and family responsibilities.”

Childbirth complications

Mutinda observed that Kihika may have run into complications that come with childbirth and that many women in Kenya are aware of this and have at some point experienced challenges after giving birth.

“The journey to motherhood is one that brings immense joy but can also come with unforeseen medical issues regarding recovery and healing. Many women have gone through this, and Governor Kihika is no different,” Mutinda noted.

“Her extended absence is due to circumstances beyond her control, and as a mother, she has to prioritise her health and that of her children.”

She noted that the governor had made a point of empowering her deputy and the executive team to provide services to the residents of Nakuru County, and that the noise around Kihika’s absence was uncalled for.

“We commend her for making the responsible choice to focus on her recovery while ensuring that operations of Nakuru County continue under the able leadership of her Deputy Governor and the executive team.”

Outdated thinking

On her part, nominated senator Esther Okenyuri challenged Kenyans to stop targeting women leaders, noting that several MPs have been sick for months, yet the same energy is not used to criticize them.

“There are so many men who are unwell and have not been in their constituencies for one or two years, but you never hear anything about it. But, because it is Susan Kihika, there is a lot of noise around it,” Okenyuri stated.

“We should reject the outdated thinking on issues of motherhood. Let us focus on what really matters, which is service delivery, governance and leadership, and not a woman’s personal decision to have a child or not.”

This came after a Nakuru resident wrote a letter to United States President Donald Trump, asking him to deport Kihika following her prolonged stay in the country. Kihika holds dual citizenship of Kenya and the United States.