ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna has urged supporters of
the late Raila Odinga to respond with love and restraint following remarks by
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga that have drawn widespread criticism.
In a statement on Wednesday, Sifuna said that while the
comments were hurtful, they should be met with the tolerance and compassion
that Odinga himself embodied.
“We know there are those who hated Baba, but it’s still
shocking to hear it,” Sifuna said.
“Baba
taught us to always respond with love. If he were still around, the next thing
you would see is him having lunch with Kahiga.”
Sifuna’s response comes after Kahiga made controversial remarks about Raila during a funeral, sparking outrage among ODM supporters and Kenyans online.
The comments by Kahiga appeared to suggest that the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga would now “free” government resources for the Mt. Kenya region, and they went viral.
The ODM secretary-general emphasized that the party would continue to uphold the former Prime Minister’s legacy of peace and reconciliation, even in the face of provocation.
“Baba never held grudges. He believed in winning hearts, not
fights,” Sifuna said. “As his followers, we must honour that spirit.”
Speaking in vernacular at a funeral in Nyeri, Kahiga said
the government had diverted attention and resources to Nyanza because of
President William Ruto’s working relationship with Raila in the months leading
up to his death.
"The plan that had been hatched, if you look keenly, for
you who do not travel, because I was in that region, all goodies were being
directed there because of tomorrow’s plans, because it seemed like they did away
with us, but God came and brought this thing," Kahiga said.
"So now people have been told to go back to the drawing
board because the plan that was there was probably to throw us out. But who is
God? Does he take ugali at somebody’s house or sleep in Kayole? He came through
in his own way. He saw up there people in heaven are disagreeing a lot and came
for Baba so that he can go and smooth things up there."
As a result of his sentiments, the Council of Governors
(CoG) condemned the Nyeri Governor’s remark, describing THEM as “reckless, insensitive,
sad and unfortunate.”
In a statement issued on Wednesday, CoG Chairperson Ahmed
Abdullahi said the council was deeply disappointed by Kahiga’s comments,
distancing itself from the governor’s sentiments.
The governors insisted that the words did not reflect the
collective position of the council.
“As the Council of Governors, we wish to disassociate with
the sentiments of Governor Kahiga and note that those are personal remarks that
do not reflect or represent the views of the Council of Governors, especially
at this time of deep mourning,” Abdullahi said.
He said it was “inhumane and unacceptable” for anyone to
celebrate Raila’s death on political grounds, adding that the late opposition
leader’s legacy transcended partisan divides.
“H.E Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga was and will forever remain a
statesman whose contributions are embedded in the annals of our country’s
history. He was not only the architect and father of devolution but its key
protector and ardent supporter,” Abdullahi stated.
Abdullahi announced that he had convened an extraordinary
meeting of the Council of Governors to be held on Thursday morning to
deliberate on the matter.
