By Mandere Onyinkwa
The Council of Governors (CoG) has removed Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga from his position as Vice Chairperson following the controversial remarks he made about the late former Prime Minister Raila Amollo Odinga.
The decision was made public moments after Dr Kahiga issued a public apology and announced his resignation from the position following public outrage.
The double development followed outrage over a viral video showing Dr Kahiga speaking in his native Kikuyu dialect at a funeral, in what appeared to be a celebratory tone regarding Raila’s death.
The remarks sparked fury across the country, especially among Raila’s supporters and leaders from the ODM party, who accused the governor of making light of national grief.
In a press statement released early Wednesday, Kahiga expressed deep regret and sought forgiveness from the Odinga family, the ODM fraternity, and Kenyans at large.
He said that his words had been taken out of context, explaining that he was referring to Raila’s immense political influence and the vacuum his passing left behind.
“My remarks were in no way celebratory,” Kahiga stated.
“What I meant is that under the current government structure, the loss of the Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga sends everyone back to the drawing board.”
He went on: “I take full responsibility for the real and perceived meaning of my remarks, and I have decided with immediate effect to step down as Vice Chair of the Council of Governors.”
But only hours after his statement, the Council of Governors convened a special sitting and unanimously voted to remove him, describing his utterances as “reckless, untimely, and unspeakable.”
“We disassociate ourselves from the sentiments made by H.E. Mutahi Kahiga,” said CoG Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi in a strongly worded statement.
“These were personal remarks that do not reflect the views and values of the Council of Governors.”
The Council also extended “deep apologies” to the family of the late Raila Odinga on behalf of all 47 county governments and reaffirmed its solidarity with the nation during what it called “a time of deep mourning.”
The CoG announced that a new vice chair will be elected in due course and urged all leaders, regardless of political affiliation, to exercise restraint and mindfulness in their public utterances.
Both statements ended with identical words: “May the soul of Rt. Hon. Raila Amollo Odinga continue resting in eternal peace.”