Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda has cautioned Kenyan leaders against making reckless public statements, citing Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga’s recent controversial remarks about the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as a key lesson in responsible leadership.
While speaking at a funeral in his home village on Tuesday, Kahiga appeared to suggest that Raila’s death would redirect government resources from the Nyanza region back to Mt Kenya. The remarks, made in vernacular, sparked widespread outrage and drew condemnation across the political divide.
Following public backlash, Kahiga issued an apology on Wednesday, claiming his comments were taken out of context. He clarified that his statement was not celebratory but rather an observation on political realignment following Raila’s passing.
However, Lesuuda said the apology fell short, emphasizing that leaders must always be clear and deliberate in their messaging. “I learnt early while working with warring communities that a leader should never need a second chance to explain their words. By the time you clarify, the damage is already done—sometimes costing lives,” she said.
She added that in the current digital age, statements made in private or community settings can quickly go viral, amplifying their impact nationwide. “An apology and withdrawal would have sufficed, but trying to justify yourself worsens the situation. This should be a lesson to all of us that a wrong is a wrong, regardless of political affiliation,” she said.
Following the controversy, Kahiga stepped down as the vice chairperson of the Council of Governors. The council later held a special meeting and unanimously voted to remove him, describing Raila as a “statesman whose legacy is etched in Kenya’s history.”
Lesuuda’s remarks serve as a timely reminder that in Kenya’s ethnically diverse and politically charged environment, leaders’ words carry immense power and must be used with care and respect.
