Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga has officially stepped down as the Vice Chairperson of the Council of Governors (CoG) following widespread public outrage over remarks he made about the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
His resignation came just hours after the CoG, led by Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, convened an urgent extraordinary meeting to discuss possible disciplinary action against him.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Governor Kahiga apologized to Raila Odinga’s family, the ODM Party, and Kenyans at large, saying his comments had been misunderstood and were never intended to cause pain during a time of national mourning.
Governor Kahiga Quits CoG Leadership Post Following Uproar on Raila Odinga Remarks. Photo: Courtesy.
He expressed deep regret for the distress his words had caused.
The county boss noted that he decided to step down from his position as CoG Vice Chair to take full responsibility for both the real and perceived harm caused by his remarks.
Speaking on Tuesday during a funeral in Nyeri County, Governor Kahiga appeared to celebrate the death of Raila.
Governor Kahiga claimed that the death of the former Prime Minister was a blessing in disguise for the Mt Kenya region.
The Nyeri County boss claimed that Raila’s agreement with the current government had sidelined the Mt. Kenya region from accessing government resources.
The remarks drew widespread condemnation on social media, with both leaders and Kenyans online criticizing the Nyeri Governor.
