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We deserve leaders who heal, not those who wound
Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga addresses a press conference at his home in Nyeri town on October 22, 2025.
Recent remarks by Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, widely seen as celebrating the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, have rightly sparked national outrage.
Words carry power, and when spoken by leaders, they shape not only public opinion but the nation’s moral conscience. In moments of grief or triumph, what leaders say defines who we are as a people.
This is not the first time reckless speech from public figures has scarred Kenya’s soul. Time and again, senior officials have used their platforms to insult, divide, or inflame rather than unite. That anyone would treat tragedy as a political opportunity instead of a moment for reflection is deeply troubling.
Kenya’s political culture has grown dangerously tolerant of verbal impunity. From tribal slurs to veiled threats, such rhetoric erodes our fragile cohesion. The National Cohesion and Integration Commission must prove it is more than symbolic - silence only emboldens those who mock decency.
Unchecked, such political speech risks normalising hatred as entertainment and cruelty as courage. When leaders are cheered for their contempt, the nation drifts towards moral decay.
The ripple effect reaches schools, workplaces, and even homes, where intolerance slowly becomes the language of everyday life. What begins as careless talk can, over time, plant the seeds of real conflict.
Citizens, too, must demand higher standards. Leadership is not applause at rallies but empathy, discipline, and respect - virtues that matter most in mourning. Kenya cannot normalise arrogance among leaders while punishing ordinary citizens for less.
If the governor apologises, it must be more than a token act - it should spark honest reflection across the political class. Our democracy will only mature when empathy is seen as a strength and humility as a core value of leadership.
Kenya deserves leaders who heal, not those who reopen wounds. Words can divide a nation - or build bridges of reconciliation and hope. The choice lies with those entrusted to lead.
Joseph Katiku Kioko, Nairobi
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