By Suleiman Mbatiah
Governor Susan Kihika chaired a cabinet meeting this afternoon, marking her first official engagement since resuming duties after maternity leave. The meeting, attended by County Executive Committee Members, focused on accelerating development projects and enhancing service delivery across the county.
Governor Kihika emphasised that her return would revitalise the county’s development agenda as outlined in her 2022 people-centred manifesto. “My presence will give a fresh impetus and direction to service delivery and the completion of development projects,” she stated during the meeting.
A key outcome of the session was the approval of a development-oriented budget for the 2025/26 Financial Year, which runs from July 2025 to June 2026. The budget aligns with Nakuru County’s 2023–2027 Integrated Development Plan, prioritising strategic resource allocation for sustainable development and effective county initiatives.
It aims to address critical needs in Nakuru, the region’s largest and most economically significant county, such as health, agriculture, roads, education, sports, and tourism, among other sectors. “We agreed on the collective effort by the Executive to fast-track the completion of development projects currently under construction,” Governor Kihika noted in a Facebook post following the meeting.
The Governor reiterated her administration’s commitment to efficient governance, emphasising prudent financial management to maximise the impact of budgetary allocations. “The completion of the ongoing projects will benefit the residents of Nakuru County,” she noted, highlighting her administration’s focus on improving the quality of life for the county’s over 2.1 million residents.
Kihika’s return comes at a critical time, as her administration seeks to meet its development targets and complete stalled projects inherited from previous administrations and the broader devolved governance framework. The approved budget will now proceed to the Nakuru County Assembly for deliberation and approval, with public participation sessions expected to ensure transparency and inclusivity.
The cabinet’s next steps include monitoring timelines and ensuring compliance with procurement regulations to deliver on the promised developments. Residents and local leaders have expressed optimism about Kihika’s leadership and the proposed projects, while also celebrating her safe return and the arrival of her twin babies.
In an earlier and separate post, the Governor noted that she was truly blessed and overwhelmed with gratitude for how she and her twin babies were welcomed home and celebrated. “Your love, prayers, and presence mean the world to me and my family. Thank you for standing with me in this special season of double blessings,” she said.
