Before the 2017 elections, Susan Kihika was not known outside Nakuru County. She was the first County Assembly speaker of the county and her influence has grown daily since 2013.
In the political cycles she is known as the ‘Iron Lady of Nakuru’, having risen from the position of County Assembly speaker to Senator within 5 years.
Those who have been in politics for a very long time know her father Kihika Kimani, a combative and recklessly resilient politician with a sharp appetite for power, property and women.
The senior Kihika is remembered for his role in trying to change the constitution to prevent Moi from taking power after the demise of Mzee Kenyatta.
But unlike her father, Susan has taken a different career path; supporting William Ruto’s Presidential bid. This is sure to land her in problems with Kikuyu mafia like David Murathe.
Early this year, when Murathe was making a lot of noise about impeaching Ruto, Susan told him that an opinion is like an asshole and everyone has one.
Susan’s meteoric rise to the pinnacle of Nakuru politics has taken many by surprise.
The second child of Kihika Kimani and his second wife Alice, Susan attended Busara Forest View Academy in Nyahururu and Bishop Gatimu Ngandu Girls’ High School in Nyeri.
She was at the heart of President Uhuru’s campaigns in 2017. But many people have been surprised at her decision to support Ruto’s campaign when the majority of the Kikuyu community are having second thoughts.
On Saturday, it was revealed that she was among the Jubilee leaders, who security had been withdrawn controversially by new IG Hilary Mutyambai.
Kihika is still very influential in Nakuru politics as she enjoys support from the majority of County Assembly Members.
This is a woman going places.