Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga is facing a wave of condemnation following his controversial remarks about the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, which many have described as heartless and divisive.
Led by ODM national chairperson Gladys Wanga, party leaders said Kahiga’s comments had forced them out of their mourning period to “defend the dignity of a national icon” and to caution all Kenyans against normalizing hate speech disguised as political commentary.
“Governor Kahiga has crossed a red line,” said Wanga in a hard-hitting statement delivered in Kisumu. “We were mourning our leader, but his utterances have compelled us to speak. His words were not only distasteful but an insult to the millions who looked up to Raila Odinga as a symbol of unity and sacrifice.”
Kisumu County Assembly Speaker added that Kahiga was “a direct beneficiary of the freedoms Raila fought for,” reminding him that even his gubernatorial seat exists because of the 2010 Constitution — a product of Odinga’s lifelong struggle for reform.
“Governor Kahiga should remember that the democracy he abuses so freely today was watered by the blood and sweat of Raila Odinga,” the Speaker declared.
Wanga further vowed to spearhead efforts to have Kahiga stripped of his national duties at the Council of Governors, accusing him of being “nothing more than a mouthpiece for Deputy President Rigathi Gachagwa.”
“Any insider within ODM or the opposition family found cozying up to Kahiga or echoing his politics will face immediate disciplinary action,” she warned. “This is not the time to entertain political vultures who thrive on the pain of others.”
The remarks by Kahiga — in which he allegedly claimed that President Ruto’s focus on developing Nyanza had angered God, who in turn “sent an angel of death” — have sparked outrage across the country.
Political observers say the backlash could permanently stain his reputation and further isolate him from the national conversation.
As the nation continues to mourn the late Raila Odinga, one thing is clear: Kahiga’s comments have reopened old wounds and reminded Kenyans that even in grief, politics in Kenya rarely takes a pause.
