NAIROBI, Kenya — The United Opposition of Kenya has accused Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga of making remarks intended to stoke ethnic tensions, dismissing his apology as insincere and calling for disciplinary action by the Council of Governors (CoG).
In a statement issued on Wednesday, United Opposition spokesperson Dr Mukhisa Kituyi said Governor Kahiga’s comments were “stage-managed” and “clearly designed to ignite an ethnic war” between the Luo and Kikuyu communities.
“It is in our view not enough for Governor Kahiga to issue what was his hurriedly scripted apology. The Council of Governors should in public interest act swiftly and censor the Nyeri Governor for his clearly stage-managed comments,” Dr Kituyi said.
The coalition demanded that Kahiga, who was elected on the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket, disclose those allegedly behind his controversial statement, accusing unnamed political figures of attempting to inflame tribal hostilities.
“Governor Kahiga should inform Kenyans why his nefarious paymasters chose him — at such a time as this — to be their mouthpiece, and issue in his vernacular tongue an absolutely shocking statement contrary to any ideals of public good,” Kituyi added.
October 22, 2025{For Immediate Release}THE UNITED OPPOSITION REJECTS NYERI GOVERNOR MUTAHI KAHIGA’S STATEMENT AND SUBSEQUENT APOLOGYHon. Dr Mukhisa Kituyi, Spokesperson of the United Opposition
‘Treason Against the People’
Dr Kituyi said the Governor’s remarks amounted to an “act of treason against the people of Kenya” and urged him to expose individuals “hell-bent on igniting a tribal war between our Luo and Kikuyu brothers.”
The United Opposition, which brings together several opposition parties including Wiper, Democratic Action Party–Kenya (DAP-K), Jubilee, Democratic Congress Party (DCP), and PLP, also urged the Council of Governors to act decisively in the public interest.
UDA Asked to Censure Kahiga
The coalition reiterated that Kahiga’s sentiments, which were broadcast across various media on October 21, 2025, represent his personal views and not those of any opposition formation.
“Governor Kahiga was elected on the UDA ticket. He is not a member of the United Opposition or any party under our umbrella,” the statement read.
The coalition urged President William Ruto, who is the UDA party leader, to lead in condemning Kahiga’s remarks alongside Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire (UDA Chairperson) and Senator Hassan Omar (UDA Secretary-General).
“UDA should by now have issued a censure and public apology statement,” the Opposition said, insisting that hate speech as defined under Article 33 of the Constitution “has no place in Kenya’s democracy.”
