With all due respect: Kaunda breaks silence after viral outburst

Former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya's one-time ally and Western Kenya political figure Nicholas Kaunda has broken his silence following a video of him delivering a heated and impassioned speech that spread rapidly across Kenyan social media platforms last week, drawing both criticism and widespread commentary.

Kaunda, who has occupied various roles in Kenyan political circles over the years, said the clip had been stripped of its original context and shared in a way that distorted the intent of his remarks. Speaking in an interview, he acknowledged that the language and tone he employed were stronger than he would ordinarily use in a public setting, and expressed regret that the clip had caused offence to some viewers.

He said the substance of what he was addressing related to what he described as long-standing neglect of Western Kenya's development interests within successive national governments, a grievance that has been a recurring theme in the region's political discourse. Kaunda argued that the frustration underpinning his words was legitimate, even if the manner of expression attracted unintended scrutiny.

The video, which circulated on WhatsApp groups and was subsequently picked up by several online media outlets, prompted considerable debate about standards of political conduct and the boundaries of acceptable public speech among elected and appointed officials.

Political commentary in Kenya has increasingly become shaped by short video clips that circulate out of context, a phenomenon that has caught several public figures off guard in recent years. Critics have used such moments to demand greater accountability, while those targeted often argue the medium distorts nuance.

Kaunda said he stood by the core message of his remarks and intended to address the issue through more formal channels in the coming days.