• Baptist Church of Kenya rebuked Nyeri governor Mutahi Kahiga for remarks deemed disrespectful following Raila Odinga’s death
• African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA) went further, banning Kahiga from attending or addressing its churches nationwide
• Political commentator and pilot Iain Njiraini faulted the church’s decision, urging clergy to correct with compassion rather than exclude
TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
The Baptist Church of Kenya strongly condemned Nyeri governor Mutahi Kahiga over his controversial remarks following the death of opposition leader Raila Odinga, calling for calm and unity among Kenyans.
Source: UGC
Speaking during a joint press briefing, the church’s president, Reverend Bernard Obuya, urged political leaders to exercise restraint and focus on honouring Raila’s legacy of peace and democracy.
“Let us mourn peacefully because we are mourning a leader who loved peace and dedicated his life to democracy. This is not the time to utter words that can divide people. Our prayer is that Raila’s passing will bring all leaders together to chart the future of this country,” Obuya said.
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Has Mutahi Kahiga been banned from attending church?
Obuya, flanked by several religious leaders, further appealed to pastors across the country to lead prayers for the Odinga family and help maintain national cohesion during the mourning period.
Kahiga had drawn public outrage earlier in the week after suggesting that Raila’s death was a blessing to Mt. Kenya region, remarks widely condemned as divisive and insensitive.
In a separate move, the African Independent Pentecostal Church of Africa (AIPCA) issued a strong statement against the governor, barring him from attending or addressing any of its churches.
In a circular signed by AIPCA Secretary-General Bernard Maina Mwangi, the church stated: “This is to notify the general public that Kahiga Mutahi has no right of audience in any AIPCA congregation. His contributions are unwelcome until he issues a written apology for his continuous reckless and insensitive statements.”
Iain Njiraini faults church over Mutahi Kahiga’s condemnation
However, political commentator and commercial pilot Iain Njiraini criticised the church for what he termed an overreaction. While acknowledging that Kahiga’s remarks were wrong, Njiraini said the clergy should have taken a more redemptive approach.
“I join the rest of the country in condemning what Kahiga said. It was unnecessary and wrong. However, I was shocked by the response from the church. I expect the church to be different because its role is to bring souls to God, not to cast them out,” Njiraini said in an Instagram video.
Njiraini, who doubles up as a commercial pilot, said the decision to ban Kahiga from church functions reflected inconsistency among religious leaders. He added that the church should correct out of love rather than punish selectively.
“When you single out one person for a specific utterance, that is not the reaction I expect from the church,” he said. “If the church wants to take a stand, it should be consistent with all politicians, not a few.”
The commentator recalled how during the 2024 youth-led protests, many young Kenyans cautioned churches against hosting politicians or accepting their donations, accusing them of double standards.
Njiraini argued that hypocrisy within the church has discouraged many believers and weakened its moral authority. He urged religious leaders to demonstrate fairness and compassion, warning that exclusionary actions risk alienating people the church should be guiding.
Source: UGC
Did Kahiga resign after his controversial remarks on Raila’s death?
In a related development, Kahiga stepped down as vice chair of the Council of Governors after public outrage over his remarks on Raila’s death.
Kahiga later clarified that his words had been taken out of context, explaining they were meant as a biblical reflection rather than mockery. Despite this, calls for his resignation grew louder, with many accusing him of insensitivity toward the late former prime minister’s family.
He eventually issued an apology to Raila’s family and expressed regret over the misunderstanding, saying he would take responsibility for his words.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
