Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga has resigned as the vice chairperson of the Council of Governors (CoG) following public uproar over remarks he made regarding the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Kahiga’s resignation comes just hours before a scheduled CoG meeting that was expected to deliberate on the controversy surrounding his comments. In a statement released on Wednesday, the governor apologized to the Odinga family and the Kenyan public for his remarks, which were widely perceived as insensitive.
“I want to sincerely apologise to our mourning nation, to the family of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga—Mama Ida, her children Rosemary, Junior, and Winnie, Senator Oburu Oginga, Ruth Odinga, other siblings, the larger extended family, the ODM fraternity, the Luo nation, and Kenyans at large—for any harm my words may have caused,” Kahiga said.
He clarified that the remarks were made during a burial ceremony in his home village and were not intended to be celebratory. “The clip was taken while attending a burial in my home village, and my remarks were in no way celebratory. What I meant was that Raila’s passing would send the political class back to the drawing board,” he explained.
Kahiga further emphasized that his remarks were his personal views and should not be attributed to his community, political affiliation, or the Council of Governors.
“In noting the huge public interest that this issue has generated, I am taking responsibility for the real and perceived meaning of my remarks. As a result, I have decided, with immediate effect, to step down as the vice chair of the Council of Governors,” he said.
The governor concluded his statement by expressing condolences to Raila Odinga’s family, saying, “I pray that the soul of Raila Odinga continues to rest in peace.”
