On Friday, April 25, 2025, Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika returned to Kenya after a five-month maternity stay in the United States, arriving at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport with her newborn twin boys. Born on November 18, 2024, in Chicago, the healthy infants immediately became the focus of national celebration as images of Kihika cradling her sons streamed across social media.
The governor’s long-anticipated homecoming celebrations in Nakuru county blended traditional pageantry with political symbolism, underscoring her role not only as a trailblazer in Kenyan politics but also as a new mother advocating for expanded maternity rights for public servants.
Almost as soon as her flight touched down, Governor Kihika was greeted by a vibrant procession of boda-boda riders and county vehicles bearing the Nakuru County crest. Well-wishers waved Kenyan flags along the route from Nairobi to Nakuru, while Maasai dancers and local bands performed cultural songs and dances en route to her official residence.
A three-tiered cake adorned with the county emblem and the words “Welcome Home, Governor!” served as the centerpiece of the evening’s festive banquet, signaling both familial joy and political solidarity.
Despite widespread admiration for her resilience, Kihika’s extended absence exceeding the statutory 90-day maternity leave had stirred debate over governance in her county. Critics raised concerns about interruptions in service delivery and decision-making, while supporters praised her for normalizing longer maternity leave and demonstrating that leadership and family life need not be mutually exclusive. Leading women politicians publicly rallied behind her, framing the homecoming as a landmark moment for gender equality in Kenyan politics.
Social-media engagement surged as photos and videos of the Nakuru Governor surrounded by political allies like Millicent Omanga and Moses Kuria, along with friends and family, garnered thousands of likes and comments. Many Kenyans took to Twitter and Instagram to congratulate Kihika on her twin boys and to admire the elaborate homecoming celebrations that paid homage to Nakuru’s cultural heritage.
As celebrations wound down late into the evening, conversations shifted toward the county’s development agenda, with constituents eager to see how Governor Kihika will balance her renewed family commitments with the pressing needs of Nakuru residents.
Susan Kihika’s return, complete with her twin boys and homecoming celebrations, marks a compelling chapter in her career as Nakuru Governor. Her journey has sparked wider discussions about maternity leave policies, women’s roles in public office, and the evolving landscape of Kenyan politics.
As she settles back into her duties, eyes across the nation will be watching how this celebrated leader translates personal triumph into renewed momentum for her county’s growth.
