NAIROBI, Kenya — Anne Waiguru, Governor of Kirinyaga County, has publicly distanced the leadership of the Mount Kenya region from remarks made by her peer, Mutahi Kahiga, Governor of Nyeri County, regarding the passing of veteran statesman Raila Amolo Odinga, CGH.
In a statement posted on her X account, Waiguru branded Kahiga’s comments as “not just unfortunate, they are callous and irresponsible,” and said they “do not reflect the views of the leadership or the people of Mt. Kenya.”
Her remarks come amid a wave of regional tributes that followed Odinga’s death and a period of national mourning. Waiguru emphasised that “politics does not oust basic decency,” and pledged that the people of Mount Kenya “stand with the rest of Kenya in mourning a great statesman, Raila Odinga.”
The public condemnation suggests internal tension within the Mount Kenya political bloc. It highlights how Odinga’s passing has stirred not just national reflection but also intra-regional political fault lines.
Governors from the region had already convened to pay tribute to the late leader, signing condolence books and assuring unity.
Observers say Waiguru’s strong language may signal a shift in how regional leadership manages public communication and intra-party coordination during periods of national significance.
It also raises questions about how political differences within the Mount Kenya region will evolve as the country enters the next cycle of electoral alignment.
For the public and political actors alike, the incident underscores a broader expectation: that even amid rivalry, public figures must exercise respect in moments of national loss and unity.
