The United Opposition of Kenya has strongly condemned remarks made by Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, describing them as hate speech and a threat to national unity.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the coalition said Kahiga’s comments, made on October 21, 2025, were designed to incite ethnic tensions.
“Our attention has been drawn to what, quite frankly, is the very definition of hate speech as outlined in Article 33 of the Constitution,” the statement read.
The opposition clarified that Governor Kahiga is not affiliated with any party under its umbrella but was elected on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket.
“Governor Kahiga’s despicable sentiments should, in one accord, be wholly condemned by all Kenyans starting with his UDA Party Leader, President William Ruto,” the statement said.
The coalition urged UDA officials, including party chairperson Cecily Mbarire and Secretary-General Hassan Omar, to issue a public apology and take disciplinary action against Kahiga.
It also called on the Council of Governors to censure the Nyeri Governor, accusing him of making “stage-managed comments designed to ignite an ethnic war.”
The statement dismissed Kahiga’s apology and resignation as CoG vice-chair as inadequate.
“It is not enough for Governor Kahiga to issue a hurriedly scripted apology,” the group said, adding that he should reveal those behind the alleged scheme to stoke divisions.
“Governor Kahiga should inform Kenyans why his paymasters chose him, at such a time as this, to be their mouthpiece,” it added.
The United Opposition demanded that Kahiga “publicly expose those hell-bent on igniting a tribal war between our Luo and Kikuyu brothers,” calling such acts treasonous.
Since Tuesday evening, the Nyeri Governor had been under criticism following remarks he made that appeared to celebrate the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
While addressing mourners during a funeral in Nyeri, Kahiga claimed that the political partnership between President William Ruto and Raila Odinga had shifted government development priorities to the Nyanza region, leaving the Mt. Kenya region sidelined in the allocation of national resources.
Speaking in the Kikuyu dialect, Kahiga told mourners that Raila’s death had “levelled the playing field,” forcing all political players, including President William Ruto, to return to the drawing board ahead of the 2027 General Election.
According to Kahiga, that was "God's plan for the region."
However, Governor Kahiga clarified that the comments reflected his personal opinion and should not be viewed as representing the position of any community, political group, or the Council of Governors.
“The remarks I made are my personal views and therefore should in no way be associated with a community’s position or any political affiliation, nor the Council of Governors,” he said.
Acknowledging the public backlash that followed the viral clip, Kahiga said he was taking full responsibility for both the real and perceived meaning of his words.
He announced that he had decided to vacate his position at the Council of Governors to preserve the institution’s integrity and promote national unity.
