NAIROBI, Kenya Oct 22 – The Council of Governors (CoG) has convened an extraordinary meeting for Wednesday morning following remarks by Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga about the death of opposition leader Raila Odinga. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a statement, CoG chair Ahmed Abdullahi said the comments were \u201cpersonal views that do not reflect the position of the Council,\u201d adding: \u201cI have convened an urgent extraordinary Council meeting to deliberate on these unfortunate utterances, and a further statement will follow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kahiga, the CoG vice-chair, drew condemnation after saying at a funeral that Odinga\u2019s 15 October death was an \u201canswered prayer\u201d for the Mt Kenya region, and alleging President William Ruto diverted resources to Nyanza at the expense of the Kikuyu community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leaders from Odinga\u2019s ODM party\u2014including Abdulswamad Nassir and James Orengo\u2014and Mt Kenya governors Anne Waiguru and Cecily Mbarire, as well as Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui, criticised the remarks as insensitive and divisive. \u201cThe statement attributed to the Nyeri Governor is regrettable and most unfortunate\u2026 It neither captures the national mood nor adds value to a nation in mourning,\u201d Kinyanjui said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Former Chief Justice David Maraga termed the remarks abhorrent and a violation of the Constitution, citing Article 73(1), which requires state officers to \u201cdemonstrate respect for the people; and bring honour to the nation and dignity to the office.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Governor Kahiga who is also the CoG Vice-Chairman has drawn widespread condemnation after stating during a funeral speech that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s death on October 15, was an ‘answered prayer’ for the Mt. Kenya region, alleging President William Ruto diverted resources to Nyanza at Kikuyu expense.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12320,"featured_media":783079,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,4625,26],"tags":[9811,1857,1981,491,27849,1844],"coauthors":[407],"class_list":["post-783078","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kenya","category-national-news","category-top-stories","tag-ahmed-abdullahi","tag-council-of-governors","tag-featured","tag-kenya","tag-mutahi-kahiga-viral-video","tag-william-ruto"],"yoast_head":"\n