‘Respect women!' Raila says as he blasts Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga in public

ODM leader Raila Odinga has castigated Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga for withholding the salary and allowances of his deputy Caroline Karugu for more than two years.

Odinga said it was a shame that Dr. Karugu had to move to court to push for her rights yet she has been in office and delivering on her mandate.

“If you have a woman as a deputy, respect her and give her rights. You should not be having a deputy governor and she is working and you are not paying her any salary, and that she has to go to court. Shame... Shame on you!” he said.

Mr. Odinga was addressing mourners at the burial of Mama Jacinta Wanjiku Karugu, the mother to Nyeri Deputy Governor Caroline Karugu.

Governor Kahiga had earlier apologized for the fallout with his deputy but by the time Mr. Odinga rose to address the gathering he had already left the event.

“I wanted to say this when the governor was here. But again, he (Kahiga) has asked for forgiveness and said that he is going to do what he is supposed to be doing… But that should not be an excuse,” said Odinga.

He added: “Don’t disrespect our women. Our women must be treated with the respect they deserve. They are equal citizens, they pay taxes like anybody else.”

She submitted to the court that she had to personally pay for her fuel, security among other expenses incurred on official duty.

At the same event, Odinga drummed up support for the Azimio La Umoja movement reiterating that his goal was to ensure peace and unity in the country.

The 2022 presidential candidate said Azimio La Umoja would ensure nobody is discriminated against on the basis of gender, age or disability.

“Siku hizi nahubiri mambo ya Azimio La Umoja. This is a declaration of unity and it is even in the bible. If we unite our people and become one people then we can develop our country.

This is the unity we want. Unity with no form of discrimination whether on the basis of gender, age or people with disability. This is the kind of thing we want in this country,” he said.