By Kamadi Amata
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga has stepped down as the Council of Governors vice chairperson.
Kahiga’s resignation comes amid public uproar over remarks he made on Tuesday, allegedly celebrating the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. This comes hours before a scheduled meeting by the CoG to deliberate on the matter.
“I want to sincerely apologize to our 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, Kenyans at large, and to my colleague leaders from all sides of the political divide for any harm my remarks have elicited,” he said.
“The clip was taken while attending a burial in my home village, and my remarks were in no way celebratory,” he added. “What I meant is that under the broad-based government, we have skilled development, and politically, the loss of Raila sends everyone back to the drawing board. As the popular saying goes, ‘God takes the best,’ and it is in this context that I made those remarks in vernacular.”
Kahiga said the remarks he made were his own personal views and therefore should in no way be associated with a community position, any political affiliation, or the Council of Governors.
“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, therefore, I have decided that with immediate effect I am going to step down as the Vice Chair of the Council of Governors, and as I do that, I also pray that the soul of Raila Odinga continues resting in peace,” he concluded.
