‘There’s No Leadership Vacuum!’ – Nakuru’s Deputy Governor defends Kihika’s Absence
David Kones, Nakuru County Deputy Governor, has defended Governor Susan Kihika’s prolonged absence.
Speaking on Wednesday, Kones indicated that the governor was completely within her rights to be absent from action and that the proper procedures were followed before she left for maternity leave.
He went on to say that there was no vacuum in operating the county because Governor Kihika had entrusted him with the responsibility during her absence.
“The Governor stated very clearly when she went to the USA to deliver. She wrote a letter and it was circulated on all platforms that the county work has been given to the deputy governor to chair all meetings and run the county smoothly,” he stated.
There is no vacuum in Nakuru County, I’m working on behalf of Governor Kihika, Nakuru Deputy Governor David Kones says
— The Standard Digital (@StandardKenya) March 26, 2025
Video: Julius Chepkwony pic.twitter.com/1wdkKd9b0G
“The governor has a lot of faith in me with officers working the county, so there is no vacuum. I want to state it very clearly.”
Kones continued: “People do not want to wait, they want to see me shouting here and there or chest-thumping when the governor is not there. I still remain the deputy governor as the governor is there and I am supporting her in all ways, 24/7.”
This address occurred just one day after Evans Kimori, a Kenyan living in Nakuru County, signed a petition to US President Donald Trump calling for her deportation.
In his letter, he claimed that the embattled governor had been in the United States for five months on maternity leave, despite the fact that in Kenya, maternity leave is limited to three months.
“Governor Kihika, elected in August 2022, has allegedly been seeking maternity and newborn medical attention in the USA for an extended period,” part of the letter read.
“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.”
DG Kones has joined the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) in protecting the embattled Nakuru governor.
Kihika has received a storm of condemnation from most Nakuru people, including Senator Tabitha Karanja, over her absence.
In a news event on Tuesday, March 26, KEWOPA described the attacks as gender-specific and begged her opponents to give her time to recover after purportedly giving birth to twins in the United States.
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Led by Kisii Women Representative Doris Donya, they asked locals to put an end to the Governor’s relentless attacks and affirmed her entitlement to maternity leave, just like any other Kenyan.
“We affirm that Her Excellency Susan Kihika, just like any other parent, has the right to maternity leave to care for her child,” they stated.
“We therefore demand the following: one, an end to gender-based attacks on Governor Susan Kihika and all our women leaders.”
The statement continued: “Two, respect for the rights of women leaders to take legally recognized maternity leave without facing political bullying, because that is exactly what is happening to Governor Kihika right now, and three, a fair political environment.”
‘There’s No Leadership Vacuum!’ – Nakuru’s Deputy Governor defends Kihika’s Absence
