Vihiga Governor Wilber Ottichilo is facing sharp scrutiny after it emerged that his administration borrowed Sh5 million to finance a housewarming party for the county speaker, despite the county grappling with massive pending bills and stalled development projects.
The issue arose on January 26 when Ottichilo appeared before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) to respond to audit queries on the use of county funds.
According to the committee, the money was borrowed on December 15, 2023, specifically to bankroll the speaker’s housewarming event, and has yet to be repaid.
Senators questioned why public resources were used for what appeared to be a private celebration at a time when Vihiga County has accumulated about Sh1.7 billion in pending bills, with suppliers and contractors awaiting payment.
Committee chair Moses Kajwang faulted the governor, accusing the county executive of misusing public resources.
“The funds were borrowed and returned by the Vihiga Assembly. The first borrowing was Sh35 million, followed by subsequent borrowings. The last borrowing was on December 15, 2023, Sh5 million to finance the speaker’s housewarming, which has not been repaid. The governor is now lending for housewarming,” Kajwang said.
Senators further questioned the justification for the expenditure, arguing that even legally borrowed funds must serve a clear public purpose. Committee member Samson Cherargei challenged the county’s priorities.
“There must be proper justification, even if it is legal or an official function. Is there a threshold on how public money should be used? Maybe we are giving them too much money until they decide to throw a housewarming,” he said.
In his defence, Governor Ottichilo insisted the event was an official government function.
He said the process began with a request from the assembly clerk and the speaker to the County Executive Committee Member in charge of finance and economic planning, which was approved because both the county assembly and executive draw funds from the same revenue pool.
However, when pressed to provide documentation proving the expenditure complied with the law, the county executive failed to present any evidence.
“I do not know the documentation here, but what I know is that the function that took place at the speaker’s place was an official function. The money given was for the official opening of the speaker’s house,” Ottichilo stated.
The committee rejected the explanation, noting that the speaker’s house itself is under audit scrutiny amid concerns that its construction costs may have been exaggerated.
“This money is not justifiable. In my opinion, it should be refunded,” Cherargei added.
Beyond the housewarming controversy, senators flagged broader financial mismanagement in the county. These included a Sh395 million hospital plaza project at Vihiga County Referral Hospital that is only 56 per cent complete despite the contract expiring in May 2024, with no evidence of renewal.
The committee also raised concerns over a Sh58.7 million revenue automation system, where 89 per cent of funds had been paid, yet key components, such as full automation, system integration, staff training, and security installations, remain incomplete.
Following the heated exchange, senators directed Governor Ottichilo to return with clearer answers, take administrative action against officers who authorised the expenditure, and initiate steps to recover the Sh5 million.
In the same sitting, the committee ordered the governor to surcharge accounting officers over more than Sh1.9 million in unrecovered salary advances issued to county employees between 2015 and 2017.
