Governor Kahiga apologizes over Raila death remarks, steps down as Vice Chair of Council of Governors

Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga issued a public apology and announced his resignation as Vice Chair of the Council of Governors.

This followed a backlash over a vernacular clip circulating on social media that was widely perceived as insensitive to the death of former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga.

This came as COG called a meeting to discuss his remarks. He had been pressured to step down following the remarks.

Kahiga expressed deep regret over comments made during a burial ceremony in his home village, which many interpreted as inappropriate and politically charged in the context of national mourning.

“I wish to extend my sincere and heartfelt apologies to our grieving nation; to the family of the Rt. Hon. Former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga… the ODM fraternity, the Luo Nation, and all Kenyans,” Kahiga said.

He clarified that his remarks, made in vernacular, were not celebratory but intended to underscore the political impact of the former Prime Minister’s passing. “What I meant is that under the current broad-based government, we have seen skewed development and politically, the loss of the Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga sends everyone back to the drawing board,” he explained.

Kahiga emphasized that the comments reflected his personal views and should not be construed as the position of the Kikuyu community, any political formation, 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 announced.

The governor concluded his statement by paying tribute to the late opposition leader, saying, “May the soul of the Rt. Hon. Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga continue resting in eternal peace.”

The remarks and subsequent resignation come amid a wave of national mourning and reflection following the recent passing of Raila Odinga, a towering figure in Kenyan politics, who served as Prime Minister from 2008 to 2013 and remained a dominant voice in the country’s political arena for decades.

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.

East African Community (EAC) Principal Secretary Dr Caroline Karugu was among the first to respond, describing Kahiga’s remarks as “silly and deeply unfortunate.”

“Governor Kahiga’s celebratory remarks that Luo-Nyanza will now be poorer because Raila Odinga is no more are silly and deeply unfortunate. They do not reflect the views of the majority of us from the region. Even the wicked should have the decency to let mourners grieve in peace. Truly, from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks—and we will know them by their words,” Dr. Karugu said.