Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara’s absence from President Ruto’s Nakuru tour raises political eyebrows

President William Ruto’s three-day tour came to an end on Wednesday. During the tour, the Head of State travelled from Kuresoi to Nakuru Town East, Gilgil, and Naivasha. Project launches and promises of better days to come dominated most of the speeches.

The highlight was at the Nakuru State House, where leaders from Nakuru flocked to the building just to meet the President. MPs, MCAs and opinion leaders were all present, representing the who's who of the political sphere. 

As the camera panned from side to side, familiar faces such as Arama, Gikaria and Irene Njoki could be seen. However, one notable absence was that of Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara.

Considering that the legislator comes from the largest voting block in the county, her absence spoke volumes.
One might have excused her for not going to Parliament for one reason or another, but the President came to her backyard in Naivasha to launch the construction of the 42-kilometre Kasarani-Kongoni-Olkaria and Ndabibi access roads in Maela Ward — and still she was a no-show.

Meanwhile, her fellow elected leaders were keen to have their photos taken with the President while launching projects.

Over the past couple of months, the MP has been seen in the company of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. At every turn, she has proven to be a thorn in the side of the current regime by speaking out about areas in which she feels the government is at fault.

Consequently, she has been no stranger to the news headlines. On July 17, police went to her home in Mariagushi, Naivasha, where she was arrested and later transferred to Nairobi.

She spent the night at Pangani Police Station and was later brought before the Milimani Law Court to answer charges of offensive conduct. She denied the charges and was released on a Sh50,000 bond.

Following her release, she expressed her disappointment that the government she had wholeheartedly supported in the lead-up to the 2022 elections was now seeking to persecute her.

On August 9, soon after the July incident, she took to her Facebook page to complain that the police had allegedly cordoned off the main entrance to her home in Mariagushi to prevent visitors from accessing it.

"Dozens of police officers are blocking entry to my home in Mariagushi to prevent my visitors from accessing it. Sending officers to block the entrance to my home is a misuse of public resources," she wrote.

In a region that was once considered a political stronghold for the president, such opposition highlights the shifting alliances and growing discontent that could influence the country's political landscape in the future.