Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga faces backlash over remarks ‘celebrating’ Raila’s death
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga faces backlash over remarks 'celebrating' Raila's death
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga has sparked outrage after making controversial remarks seen as politicising and mocking the death of former Prime Minister Raila 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.
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He goes on; “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 comments have drawn 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.
Nyandarua Senator John Methu also criticised the governor, saying: “Kahiga has decided that he and recklessness will walk hand in hand. That was an extremely unfortunate statement.”
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