Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga will be appearing before the National Cohesion and Integration Commission after being summoned by the Commissioner. This is due to his alleged comments mocking the death of former prime minister Raila Odinga.
The comments made by the governor during a funeral ceremony in Nyeri on Tuesday evening rapidly circulated on social media. Consequently, they provoked an indignation at the political leaders level.
Kahiga has been removed from the position of CoG Vice-Chair after he decided to resign and apologize for his controversial remarks.
Kahiga’s comments were condemned by many as irresponsible and unsympathetic. This was the reason he publicly apologized for his behavior and resigned his post as Vice Chair of the Council of Governors (CoG).
Nevertheless, the Council held an emergency virtual meeting to consider the issue and, thus, they unanimously decided to dismiss him from the post, thereby distancing the institution from his utterances.
Gladys Wanga, Chairperson of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) said the remarks were “reckless and disrespectful.” The United Opposition of Kenya, headed by Kalonzo Musyoka, also criticized the remarks as “despicable,” and advised the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to take disciplinary action against Kahiga.
Mutahi Kagwe, the former Nyeri Senator and current Agriculture Cabinet Secretary, also came out against Kahiga. He said his comments were not only culturally offensive but were also unrepresentative of the Nyeri people’s values.
In response to the growing demands for accountability and restraint from the public leaders, NCIC has summoned Governor Kahiga to appear before it and provide an explanation of his remarks.
