Petitioner Claims Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika is a US Citizen

A petition has been filed seeking to have Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika disqualified from the Nakuru gubernatorial race on grounds that she is not a Kenyan citizen.

In his petition to Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Wafula Chebukati, Joseph Kimani Njuguna claims that Kihika renounced her Kenyan citizenship in 2003 and then acquired the United States of America (USA) citizenship.

 “Having lost her Kenya citizenship, the said Susan Wakahura Kihika was required under section 10 of the Citizenship and Immigration Act Cap 172 of the laws of Kenya to apply in the prescribed manner in order to regain citizenship of Kenya,” reads the petition.

“Section 8(4) of the Citizenship and Immigration Act makes it an offense for a duo citizen who fails to disclose his/her other citizenship in the prescribed manners.”

The petitioner argues that Kihika, who is eyeing the Nakuru governor’s seat on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, contravenes the Constitution in her quest to become governor.

“I, therefore, request that the said Susan Wakahura Kihika be barred from contesting the upcoming general election of the August 2022 in the position of Governor Nakuru County,” Njuguna submitted.

Kihika previously lived and worked as an attorney in the US for over 20 years before returning to the country in 2012. She served as Nakuru County Assembly Speaker from 2013 to 2017.