Kenyan Governor Susan Kihika Sparks Controversy Over Giving Birth in the U.S.

Nakuru, Kenya – 9th June 2025

Kenya’s Nakuru County Governor, Susan Kihika, has stirred a national conversation following her comments justifying why she chose to give birth in the United States instead of in her home country.

Speaking in Kikuyu during a Madaraka Day celebration, Governor Kihika explained her decision, citing personal discomfort with being attended to by medical staff who work under her administration.

“All doctors and nurses are under me. Did you really want me to lay on a table with the same doctors helping me deliver?” she asked the amused crowd, sparking both laughter and applause.

The 51-year-old governor recently returned to Kenya after spending five months abroad, where she delivered twin babies. Her homecoming was met with celebrations from supporters, but her remarks have ignited intense backlash on social media and in political circles.

Critics have accused the governor of trivialising the integrity of Kenya’s healthcare system and showing disregard for public servants. Many argue that her comments highlight a deeper issue of elite detachment from the conditions faced by ordinary citizens who rely on the very services she dismissed.

“If she doesn’t trust the hospitals under her jurisdiction, how can she expect any other woman in Nakuru to feel safe delivering there?” asked a social media user on X (formerly Twitter).

Kihika’s prolonged absence had already been a point of concern for some constituents, raising questions about leadership continuity and governance during her leave. This latest controversy adds further strain to her image, as many now demand a serious commitment to addressing the shortcomings of the county’s healthcare system.

In response to the growing backlash, the governor promised to prioritise improvements in maternity care across Nakuru County. However, public trust may prove difficult to regain in the wake of her candid — and, for many, insensitive — comments.

This incident has once again exposed the tension between Kenya’s political elite and the realities faced by the general public, particularly in the critical area of healthcare.