Frontier Eye Desk
Nairobi, Kenya.
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga is facing mounting political and public pressure after making controversial remarks perceived as celebrating the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The fallout has led to his summons by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) and removal as Vice Chairperson of the Council of Governors (CoG).
The uproar, which has united leaders across political divides, intensified on Wednesday as Nyeri MPs announced plans to visit Ida Odinga to convey condolences and dissociate themselves from Kahiga’s statements. Meanwhile, Kisii Governor Simba Arati has called for his immediate arrest.
Kahiga’s comments, made in Kikuyu during a burial ceremony in Nyeri on October 21, quickly went viral. In the video, the governor allegedly described Odinga’s passing as a “blessing in disguise” for the Mt. Kenya region, suggesting it would redirect government attention and resources away from Nyanza — claims that have been widely condemned as insensitive and ethnically divisive.
Odinga, a towering figure in Kenyan politics and the long-time leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), died on October 15 in India, where he was undergoing treatment for cardiac complications.
The comments drew swift and widespread condemnation. CoG Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi (Governor of Wajir) described Kahiga’s remarks as “reckless, untimely, and unspeakable.”
“It is inhumane and unacceptable to celebrate his death on account of perceived political calculations. Raila Odinga was and will forever remain a statesman whose contributions are etched in our country’s history,” Abdullahi said.
Following an emergency CoG meeting, the council voted unanimously to remove Kahiga as Vice Chairperson, citing a breach of the council’s ethical standards. A new election to fill the position will be held in the coming days.
In a preemptive move, Kahiga resigned from the CoG post hours before the vote and issued a public apology, saying his remarks had been “taken out of context.”
“My remarks were in no way celebratory,” he told reporters in Nyeri. “What I meant was that politically, the passing of Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga compels all of us to return to the drawing board.”
Kahiga extended an apology to Ida Odinga, her children — Rosemary, Junior, and Winnie — as well as the Luo community, ODM party, and Kenyans at large, stating that he takes “full responsibility for both the real and perceived harm caused by [his] remarks.”
The NCIC, chaired by Dr. Samuel Kobia, summoned Kahiga to record a statement over possible violations of the National Cohesion and Integration Act, which prohibits hate speech and ethnic incitement.
“The Commission has noted with grave concern the remarks attributed to Mutahi Kahiga… made during a public address on October 21,” NCIC said in a statement, urging him to make an unreserved public apology.
Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura echoed the Commission’s concerns, warning politicians against divisive rhetoric and directing the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to probe the matter.
Nyeri’s parliamentary delegation, disowned the governor’s remarks, pledging to visit Ida Odinga in solidarity.
“He spoke for himself, not for Nyeri, not for the mountain, and certainly not for Kenya,” Wambugu said in a post on social media.
The MPs urged Kahiga to resign as governor, as protests erupted in Nyeri, where residents denounced the governor’s comments as a betrayal of national unity.
From Kisii, Governor Simba Arati, a close ally of the Odinga family, demanded Kahiga’s arrest and prosecution, terming his remarks “silly, divisive, and deeply unfortunate.” Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga also weighed in, accusing Mt. Kenya hardliners of exploiting Odinga’s death to stoke ethnic tensions.
Religious leaders, elders, and civil society groups have joined the chorus of condemnation. Agikuyu elders visited Odinga’s grave in Bondo to offer prayers and reaffirm solidarity between the Kikuyu and Luo communities.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei branded Kahiga’s remarks “ungodly, un-African, and uncouth,” while UDA Chairperson Cecily Mbarire said the comments were “reckless and deeply disrespectful,” clarifying that they do not reflect Mt. Kenya’s views.
As Kenya continues to mourn Raila Odinga, who was laid to rest on October 18, Kahiga’s controversy underscores the fragility of national cohesion in the country’s polarized political landscape.
With NCIC investigations and public outrage growing, the embattled governor’s political future hangs in the balance — even as the nation reflects on the enduring legacy of the man whose passing continues to unite and divide in equal measure.