Susan Kihika, Tabitha Karanja Make History In Nakuru

Outgoing Nakuru Senator, Susan Kihika and Keroche Breweries CEO Tabitha Karanja have written themselves in history books in a Nakuru County leadership consisting of women.

Kihika, who vied on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party ticket, garnered 440,707 votes, unseating the incumbent governor, Lee Kinyanjui, who got 225,623 votes.

Karanja on the other hand was declared the Senator-elect of Nakuru County with 442,864 votes against Lawrence Karanja (Jubilee Party) with 163,625 and John Mututho (ODM) with 36,472.

Susan Kihika after casting her vote on August 9, 2022. /TWITTER

The IEBC Nakuru Returning Officer stated that Kihika beat Kinyanjui in all the 11 constituencies of the expansive and vote-rich county.

"I take this chance to thank my husband, Sam Mburu, who is right here today. He has really supported me, you all know I am quite a fireball so for a husband to put up with me may not be very easy," she said after the announcement.

Kihika had earlier on seemed to have given Kenyans hope of a victory through a message she shared on social media.

"Thank you to the great people of Nakuru County for giving me a resounding mandate to be the 3rd Governor.

"It is a huge privilege and honour with great responsibility. I will give it my all, and together we will get it on the path to economic prosperity and make it work for all!" Kihika stated. 

Karanja on her part praised the election into the Senate and a women leadership in the county, which is a huge redemption curve for her, having overseen her business, Keroche Breweries, get back to operations following an agreement by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) in line with a court order issued on Thursday, July 28.

"I owe the people of Nakuru my service. I will ensure that I represent all your interests at the national level through the Senate."

Earlier on, the country witnessed another female governor, Anne Waiguru, who held on to her seat and shrugged off a dramatic scare by independent candidate, Purity Wangui Ngirici, who was aiming to unseat her on an independent ticket as an outgoing Woman Representative.

Waiguru got 113,088 votes against Ngirici's 105,677 votes, a difference of 7,411.