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Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga has resigned from his position as Vice Chairperson of the Council of Governors (COG) following a public uproar over remarks he made earlier this week regarding the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Kahiga found himself at the center of controversy after he appeared to celebrate Odinga's death during a funeral in Nyeri on Tuesday. In his speech, the governor claimed that the political alignment between President William Ruto and Raila Odinga had shifted development priorities in favor of the Nyanza region, leaving the Mt. Kenya region deprived of government resources.
His remarks were widely condemned across the country, with many accusing him of showing disrespect to the late ODM leader. The public outcry led to Kahiga issuing an apology the following day, during which he also announced his resignation from the COG position.
“I want to apologize to the family, the larger ODM, my colleagues, and those in the larger Nyanza region,” Kahiga stated in a press address on Wednesday. “My remarks were personal and not those of the people of Nyeri or the Council of Governors.”
He took full responsibility for his comments and confirmed that he was stepping down with immediate effect. Kahiga had only been appointed Vice Chair of the COG on October 6, 2025.
In his controversial speech, which he delivered in Kikuyu, Kahiga suggested that Raila Odinga’s death had “levelled the playing field,” forcing all political players, including President William Ruto, to recalibrate their strategies for the 2027 General Election.
Kahiga’s apology and resignation have done little to quell the backlash, with many questioning his judgment and the broader political implications of his comments.
The governor's resignation marks a dramatic turn in the already charged political atmosphere as the nation prepares for the upcoming elections.
