Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga has officially resigned from his position as the Vice Chairperson of the Council of Governors (CoG) following intense public outrage over controversial remarks he made about the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
His resignation was announced just hours after the CoG, led by Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, called for an emergency meeting to discuss possible disciplinary action against him.
In a heartfelt statement released on Wednesday, Governor Kahiga expressed deep remorse and apologised to the family of Raila Odinga, members of the ODM party, and Kenyans in general.
He said he regretted that his comments had been misunderstood and caused pain at a time when the nation was mourning.
“I want to sincerely apologise to our mourning nation, to the family of the Rt. Hon. Former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga—Mama Ida Odinga, her children Rosemary, Junior, and Winnie, Hon. Senator Oburu Odinga, and Hon. MP Ruth Odinga—the ODM fraternity, the Luo Nation, and all Kenyans,” read part of Kahiga’s statement. “My remarks were not meant to celebrate anyone’s death.
What I intended to say was that with the passing of Raila Odinga, the current political landscape under the broad-based government will be forced to reset and rethink its approach, especially regarding fair development for all regions.”
Governor Kahiga further explained that he had chosen to step down from his CoG leadership position to take full responsibility for the distress and public anger his words had caused.
“In recognising the great public interest and concern my remarks have generated, I have decided to take full responsibility for both the real and perceived impact of my words.
Therefore, with immediate effect, I have chosen to step down as the Vice Chairperson of the Council of Governors,” he said.
The controversy began on Tuesday evening when Kahiga, while addressing mourners at a funeral in Nyeri County, made statements that were widely condemned as insensitive.
He reportedly claimed that Raila’s death was “a blessing” for the Mt Kenya region, arguing that the area had been sidelined in development projects since the formation of the broad-based government.
Kahiga, who has in the past drawn criticism for making divisive political remarks, went further to claim that Raila’s alliance with President William Ruto had negatively affected development in Central Kenya.
He suggested that their partnership shifted government attention and resources towards Nyanza, leaving Mt Kenya behind.
His remarks quickly triggered outrage across the country, with leaders from both the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) strongly condemning him. They accused the governor of being insensitive and disrespectful during a national mourning period.
Council of Governors’ Response
In response to the widespread backlash, the Council of Governors held an emergency session to deliberate on the issue. After the meeting, the CoG released a statement confirming that it had passed a vote of no confidence against Governor Kahiga and resolved to remove him from his leadership position.
“The Council has resolved to remove Governor Mutahi Kahiga after passing a vote of no confidence against him. He is hereby removed from his position as the Vice Chairperson of the Council of Governors. Another meeting will be held soon to discuss further disciplinary action,” the CoG’s statement read.
The council also issued its own apology to Raila Odinga’s family, the ODM party, and the Kenyan public. The statement described Kahiga’s comments as unfortunate, deeply regrettable, and contrary to the principles of respect, unity, and decency that the Council upholds.
Furthermore, the CoG announced plans to convene another session to explore additional disciplinary steps against Governor Kahiga.
The pressure continues to grow from both political leaders and the public, with many calling for stronger measures to ensure accountability and to uphold respect during times of national grief.
Kahiga’s resignation marks a significant moment in the ongoing debate about political ethics and public responsibility in Kenya, especially when dealing with sensitive national matters such as the death of a major political figure.
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