Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga’s recent remarks about the late Raila Odinga have exposed a worrying trend — the spread of divisive, tribal, and emotionally reckless politics within the Mt Kenya region. What began as Rigathi Gachagua’s brand of tribal entitlement and emotional outbursts is now slowly infecting other leaders, threatening to isolate the region politically and morally from the rest of the country.
Governor Kahiga’s comments, perceived as celebrating the death of a national icon, drew sharp criticism from leaders across the country. What makes his remarks more alarming is not just their timing — during a moment of national mourning — but their reflection of a deeper political sickness: the belief that Mt Kenya’s progress can only come at the expense of others.
This mindset mirrors the political conduct of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, whose tenure was marked by tribal rhetoric, victimhood, and a sense of entitlement to national leadership. His brand of politics, built on emotional manipulation and regional siege mentality, has done little to inspire unity or national respect.
Mt Kenya must act urgently to stop this narrative before it becomes its political identity. The region has always produced national leaders — people like Kenneth Matiba, Wangari Maathai, and Mwai Kibaki — who rose above tribal confines to champion national progress.
If leaders like Kahiga continue echoing Gachagua’s divisive language, the region risks alienating itself from the rest of the country and losing its historic moral and political authority.
Mt Kenya does not need loud tribal warriors. It needs sober, visionary, emotionally intelligent leaders who can build alliances, not burn bridges. It’s time to tame Gachagua’s political offspring before they turn the mountain into an island.
