Governors dissociate with Mutahi Kahiga for celebrating Raila Odinga’s death
By Francis Muli, October 22, 2025The Council of Governors (CoG) has expressed deep disappointment over remarks made by Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga that appeared to celebrate the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, terming them “reckless, insensitive, and inhumane.”
In a statement dated October 21, 2025, and signed by CoG Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi, the council dissociated itself from Kahiga’s comments, emphasizing that they were his personal views and did not reflect the collective position of county chiefs.
“Today, the Council of Governors registers its deep disappointment on the unfortunate utterances by Governor Kahiga Mutahi of Nyeri County,” Abdullahi said. “We wish to disassociate in toto with the sentiments of Governor Kahiga and note that those are personal remarks that do not reflect or represent the views of the Council of Governors, especially at this time of deep mourning.”
The council condemned Kahiga’s statement as “inhumane and unacceptable,” saying it was wrong to “celebrate” the passing of a leader who contributed immensely to Kenya’s democratic and developmental history.
“It is inhumane and unacceptable to celebrate his death on account of perceived political calculations,” the statement read. “H.E. Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga was and will forever remain a statesman whose contributions are embedded in the annals of our country’s history. He was not only the architect and father of devolution but also its key protector and ardent supporter.”
The CoG chairperson further described Odinga as a “father, husband, grandfather, brother, and many things to many people,” adding that Kenya owes him “immense respect both in life and in death.”
In response to the controversy, Abdullahi announced that an urgent extraordinary council meeting would be convened to deliberate on the matter and issue a follow-up statement.
The backlash follows Kahiga’s remarks during a burial ceremony in Nyeri, where he suggested that Raila’s death was part of “divine intervention” that disrupted political plans against the Mt Kenya region.
“You guys can see what had been planned, but God brought something up. Now it’s total confusion. We did not harbour hate for anyone, but God came through for us,” Kahiga said, sparking widespread condemnation from both government and opposition leaders.
Political figures across the country, including ODM Deputy Party Leader Abdulswamad Nassir, UDA Chairperson Cecily Mbarire, and several Cabinet Secretaries and governors, have since censured Kahiga, describing his comments as disrespectful, divisive, and unbecoming of a leader during a period of national mourning.
The late Raila Odinga, who passed away earlier this month, is widely regarded as a central figure in Kenya’s democratic history and the foremost architect of the country’s devolution system. His death has drawn tributes from across Africa and the world, uniting Kenyans in grief and reflection on his political legacy.