Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga has resigned as the Vice Chairperson of the Council of Governors (CoG) following mounting public outrage over remarks he made regarding the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
His resignation comes just hours after the CoG, under the leadership of Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, had called for an urgent, extraordinary meeting to deliberate on possible sanctions against him.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Governor Kahiga apologised to Raila Odinga’s family, the ODM fraternity, and Kenyans at large, expressing regret that his remarks had been misinterpreted and caused distress during a period of national 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 Kenyans at large,” Kahiga said in the statement.
“My remarks were in no way celebratory. What I meant is that under the current broad-based government, we have seen skewed development and, politically, the loss of the Rt. Hon Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga sends everyone back to the drawing board,” he clarified.
The governor said he decided to step down from his position as CoG Vice Chair to take full responsibility for both the real and perceived harm caused by his remarks.
“In noting the huge public interest that this issue has generated, I am taking responsibility of the real and perceived meaning of my remarks and as a result therefore, I have decided that with immediate effect to step down as the Vice Chair of the Council of Governors,” his statement read.
On Tuesday evening, while addressing mourners at a funeral in his home county, Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga sparked outrage after claiming that the death of Raila was a blessing for the Mt Kenya region, which he alleged had been sidelined since the formation of the broad-based government.
Kahiga, who has previously faced criticism over controversial political remarks, alleged that Raila’s political partnership with President William Ruto disrupted development priorities in Central Kenya, shifting focus and resources in favour of the Nyanza region.
The comments drew immediate and widespread condemnation from leaders across the political spectrum, including members of both the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), who accused the governor of making insensitive remarks during a period of national mourning.
CoG Statement
Following the backlash, the Council of Governors convened an emergency meeting to address the controversy.
In a statement released from its headquarters in Nairobi, the CoG confirmed that it had passed a vote of no confidence against Kahiga and resolved to remove him from his position as Vice Chairperson.
“The Council has resolved to remove Governor Mutahi Kahiga, having passed a vote of no confidence against him, and hereby removes him as the Vice Chair of the Council. We will convene another meeting in due time to discuss further disciplinary action against him,” read the statement from the Council of Governors.
The council also issued an apology to the family of the late Raila and to Kenyans, terming Kahiga’s remarks regrettable and inconsistent with the values of national unity and respect for the dead.
Additionally, the CoG announced plans to meet again to deliberate on further disciplinary measures against the governor, even as pressure continues to mount for him to face additional accountability.
