Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga has apologised to his Murang'a counterpart Irungu Kang'ata over remarks he made over the weekend saying they were taken out of context.
Kahiga on Tuesday sought to clarify his message saying his aim was to push the Murang'a governor to defend the interests of the Mt Kenya region.
''The remarks I had made about my friend Kang'ata during the burial ceremony of Laikipia Senator John Kinyua’s father Mzee William Nderitu Kinyua were taken out of context," he said in a video seen by the Star Tuesday.
"What I wanted to tell him was that it was necessary to defend Mt Kenya interests for there is a direction we want to take as people of the Mt Kenya region."
Kahiga while insisting he was misquoted pleaded with Kang'ata to align with their side that is backing former DP Rigathi Gachagua as the kingpin of the Mt Kenya region.
He at the same time praised him for his contributions to delivering services to Murang'a residents citing Kang'ata care among several programmes he has initiated.
The apology came after Kahiga Monday challenged Kang'ata to make public his stand regarding the future of the Mt Kenya region ahead of the 2027 elections.
‘’We would like to tell Kang’ata to listen to the ground since we are going to follow the direction in which the Mt Kenya kingpin will declare,’’ Kahiga said.
He made the remarks after Kang'ata had avoided taking a political side in his address even as speaker after speaker, at the burial service, made public his or her political side.
The Murang'a governor in his speech said he was focused on delivering his campaign promises to the people of his county.
‘’When President Ruto and Gachagua came to Murang’a, they told me two things; one was to focus on delivering services to Murang’a residents and two was to offer solutions to the challenges facing Murang’a citizens…and that remains as my stand’’ Kang’ata said.
When he rose to speak, Kahiga urged him to declare his support for Gachagua saying failure to align with him will cost him his seat in the 2027 elections.
