President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is set to discipline Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga for allegedly making disrespectful comments that involved celebrating the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
UDA Chairperson Cecily Mbarire confirmed the move, saying the party will not tolerate such conduct.
She made the remarks in Kathwana while attending the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on waste management alongside Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma and Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki.
“As the UDA party, we disassociated ourselves from the sentiments by Governor Kahiga and have cautioned him to adhere to the ideals of the ruling party,” Mbarire said.
“Now that the National Cohesion and Integration Commission has summoned him, we will also take action at the party level. We will write to him on the next course of action.”
Kahiga sparked backlash after remarks made while addressing mourners in Nyeri on Tuesday evening, where he claimed that the death of Raila was a blessing for the Mt Kenya region, which he alleged had been sidelined since the formation of the broad-based government.
The governor alleged that Raila’s political partnership with President William Ruto disrupted development priorities in Central Kenya, shifting focus and resources in favour of the Nyanza region.
The comments drew immediate and widespread condemnation from leaders across the political spectrum, including members of both the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), who accused the governor of making insensitive remarks during a period of national mourning.
After the outrage, Kahiga resigned from his position of Vice Chair of the CoG, where he apologised to Raila Odinga’s family, the ODM fraternity, and Kenyans at large, expressing regret that his remarks had been misinterpreted and caused distress during a period of national mourning.
“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, the ODM fraternity, the Luo Nation, and Kenyans at large,” Kahiga said in the statement.
“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 the Rt. Hon Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga sends everyone back to the drawing board,” he clarified.
While announcing the disciplinary action, Mbarire disputed the sentiments by Kahiga, saying the Mt Kenya region is enjoying several government projects, including in housing, electrification, roads, and health.
“It is not true that development is going to only one region of Kenya. Plans are underway for the dualling of the Makutano – Embu – Meru road, which will ease transport through this corridor. As a region, we remain fully behind President Ruto and his deputy, Kithure Kindiki,” she said.
