Nyeri Governor Dr. Mwalimu Mutahi Kahiga has resigned from his position as the Council of Governors vice chair following remarks made about Rt. Hon. Raila Amolo Odinga.
In a statement issued on October 22, 2025, apologised to the family of Raila and Kenyans at large over remarks he made in a vernacular clip that went viral on social media, saying his comments were misunderstood and not meant to be celebratory.
Kahiga expressed deep regret over the incident and announced that he had stepped down as Vice Chairperson of the Council of Governors (CoG), taking full responsibility for the controversy his remarks generated.
“I am taking responsibility of the real and perceived meaning of my remarks and, as a result, I have decided to step down as the Vice Chair of the Council of Governors,” he announced.
“From the very onset, I want to sincerely apologise to our mourning nation, to the family of the Rt. Hon. Former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga; Mama Ida Odinga, her children Rosemary, Junior, and Winnie, Hon. Senator Oburu Odinga and Hon. MP Ruth Odinga and the larger family, the ODM fraternity, the Luo Nation and Kenyans at large,” the governor stated.
Kahiga explained that the clip was recorded during a burial in his home village and that his words had been taken out of context.
“My remarks were in no way celebratory. What I meant is that under the current broad-based government, we have seen skewed development, and politically, the loss of Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga sends everyone back to the drawing board. As the popular saying goes, ‘God takes the best,’ and it was in that context that I made those remarks,” he clarified.
The governor emphasised that his comments represented his personal views and not those of the Kikuyu community, the County Government of Nyeri, or the Council of Governors.
“Let me make it clear that the remarks I made are my personal views and should in no way be associated with a community’s position or any political affiliation nor the Council of Governors,” he said.
Kahiga concluded by sending his condolences to the Odinga family, saying, “May the soul of the Rt. Hon. Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga continue resting in eternal peace.”