The opposition has also demanded immediate action from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) leadership and the Council of Governors (CoG).

In a media statement issued on Tuesday, October 22, the coalition’s spokesperson,  Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi, distanced the opposition from the governor’s controversial comments.

“Our attention has been drawn to what quite frankly is the very definition of hate speech as clearly defined and outlined in our Constitution, Article 33,” said Dr. Kituyi. “Governor Kahiga’s sentiments are his alone. For the record, he was elected on the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket. He is not a member of the United Opposition or any party under our umbrella.”

Dr. Kituyi urged President William Ruto, UDA Party Leader, together with the party’s national officials—Chairperson Cecily Mbarire and Secretary General Senator Hassan Omar—to issue a public censure and apology over what he termed “despicable sentiments” made by the Nyeri Governor. 

“Governor Kahiga’s despicable sentiments should, in one accord, be wholly condemned by all Kenyans starting with his UDA Party Leader,” Kituyi said, adding that the ruling party should have already issued a formal reprimand.

The former UNCTAD Secretary-General further called on the Council of Governors to 'act swiftly and censure the Nyeri Governor' for what he described as 'clearly stage-managed comments designed to ignite an ethnic war.'

Governor Kahiga, who resigned as Vice-Chairman of the Council of Governors following public backlash, had earlier issued an apology over his remarks.

However, the United Opposition has dismissed the apology as 'hurriedly scripted' and 'insufficient.'

“It is in our view not enough for Governor Kahiga to issue what was his hurriedly scripted apology,” Kituyi said. “The CoG should, in public interest, first act swiftly and censure the Nyeri Governor.”

Dr. Kituyi went on to say that Governor Kahiga may have been influenced by unnamed political actors who wanted to incite ethnic tensions between communities.

“Governor Kahiga should inform Kenyans why his nefarious paymasters chose him—at such a time as this—to be their mouthpiece,” he said.

“He must publicly expose these insidious and nefarious men and women who are seemingly hell-bent on igniting a tribal war between our Luo and Kikuyu brothers, an act that must be wholly condemned and considered an act of treason against the people of the Republic of Kenya.” By Tonny Ndungu, Citizen Digital