The Council of Governors (CoG) called for an urgent Extraordinary Council Meeting scheduled for Wednesday morning to deliberate on the remarks made by Nyeri Governor Kahiga Mutahi on the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
COG indicated that a further statement would follow after the meeting.
Kahiga is the deputy chairman of COG and there are calls for his removal from the post.
The Council issued a strong condemnation of remarks distancing itself entirely from comments deemed “reckless, insensitive, and inhumane” regarding the passing of Odinga.
In a statement released, the Council expressed deep disappointment over Governor Kahiga’s utterances, noting that his sentiments were personal and do not reflect the collective views of the Council—particularly during a period of national mourning.
“We wish to disassociate in toto with the sentiments of Governor Kahiga,” the statement read. “The comments are indeed reckless, insensitive, sad, and unfortunate. It is inhumane and unacceptable to celebrate his death on account of perceived political calculations.”
The Council paid glowing tribute to Raila Odinga, hailing him as a statesman, the father of devolution, and a key protector of Kenya’s democratic institutions.
“He was not only the architect and father of Devolution but its key protector and ardent supporter. We as a nation owe him immense respect both in life and in death,” the statement added.
Odinga, a towering figure in Kenya’s political landscape, passed away on October 15, 2025 while under medical care in India, prompting an outpouring of grief across the country and beyond.
Kahiga had not issued a public clarification or apology at the time of publication.
Kahiga sparked outrage after making controversial remarks seen as politicising and mocking the death of Odinga.
Speaking in his native Kikuyu language at a burial ceremony in Nyeri, Kahiga suggested that Odinga’s death was God’s plan to get the Mt Kenya region back to enjoying State resources that had been diverted elsewhere.
In the short video that has gone viral on social media, the Nyeri Governor claimed that the political arrangement between President William Ruto and Raila Odinga had shifted government development priorities toward the Nyanza region.
He went on to suggest that Raila’s death had “levelled the playing field,” forcing all political players—including the President—to return to the drawing board ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“You guys can see, you can see what had been planned but God brought something up. Now it’s total confusion. Everybody can see that. We did not harbor hate for anyone but God came through for us. Because the plan that had been hatched if you look keenly, for you who do not travel because I was in that region, all goodies were being directed there because of tomorrow’s plans because it seemed like they did away with us but God came and brought this thing,” says Kahiga.
“So now people have been told to go back to the drawing board because the plan that was there was probably to throw us out. But who is God. Does he take ugali at somebody’s house or sleep in Kayole? He came through in his own way. He saw up there people in heaven are disagreeing a lot and came for Baba so that he can go and smoothen things up there.”
His remarks drew widespread condemnation from leaders across the political divide, who have termed them insensitive and divisive.
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