Jonglei State Governor Riek Gai Kok was flown to Nairobi on Tuesday for medical treatment after developing high blood pressure while on official duty in Duk County, his deputy confirmed.
Deputy Governor Wilson Wuol Gajang, who is currently serving as acting governor, said the governor’s condition is stable and dismissed social media reports suggesting he had collapsed or was in critical condition.
“The governor did not collapse. He developed high blood pressure and travelled from Duk to Bor for a medical check-up. From Bor he proceeded to Juba and then to Nairobi, where he is receiving medical attention,” Wuol said.
He added that he spoke with the governor on Wednesday morning and that he was recovering well.
A senior state official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that Gai had a history of hypertension and suggested that ongoing insecurity in Duk County, combined with harsh weather conditions, may have aggravated his condition.
The official said the governor was first taken to Bor before being airlifted by United Nations Mission in South Sudan to Juba. His family later arranged his transfer to Nairobi for further care.
Authorities dismissed rumors that the governor suffered food poisoning, calling the claims false and potentially inflammatory.
Gai, a member of the SPLM party, was appointed governor in March 2025 by President Salva Kiir Mayardit and previously served as national minister of health.
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