Vihiga promises to deliver Ottichilo's promises before August

The Vihiga government has promised to deliver Governor Wilber Ottichilo's pre-election development pledges before the August general election.

County secretary and head of public service Ezekiel Ayiego said Ottichilo has done his best to deliver services to the people.

Ayiego told the Star on the phone that under Governor Ottichilo’s administration they have achieved 70 per cent of their development agenda.

“We are even sure that we can reach 100 per cent of our development agenda before going back on the ballot,” he said.

Ayiego urged all county workers to embrace unity and teamwork to help Ottichilo make Vihiga greater than before.

He said a few workers within the administration have refused to comply with Ottichilo’s directives.

Ayiego said the governor had directed that all staff be paid their salaries before December 24, but this did not happen.

He said the move by the finance department not to pay workers on time demoralises staff. 

However, finance executive Alfred Indeche dismissed the claims, saying the delay did not originate from his office.

"The public service office has to submit the payroll by mid-month so that I can start working on it, but if they delay, then it means the entire process has to be delayed," he said.

"The county staff should blame the public service and not the finance department as they are currently doing."  

“Governor, I have been a teacher for the last 20 years and I know how to handle lazy people. Just give me that mandate and you will see how things will move,” the county secretary cited.

He said he used to believe that Ottichilo is not delivering to Vihiga people but since he joined the county, he has discovered that it is not that way.  

Previously, Ottichilo had lamented over the MCAs for fighting his development agenda.

He said the calibre of MCAs elected was a major problem.

Ottichilo said Vihiga could have been on another level in terms of development but MCAs have been frustrating him and blocking some of his programmes.

He said any county with sober-minded MCAs is better compared to Vihiga, where MCAs only front their interests.

“As we move to the next election, don’t underrate the MCAs positions at any cost,” he appealed.

Last month, Ottichilo said he has delivered 71 per cent of projects he promised to the people despite the many challenges he has faced.

Giving his scorecard for his four years in office, Ottichilo said he had delivered key development projects in health, agriculture and education.

Other areas include housing, trade, water, roads and infrastructure departments.

He singled out the construction of fish ponds and training facilities at the Mwitoko Fish Hatchery and Training Centre and maintenance of 442.5km roads in the county.

In healthcare, the governor said his administration had opened a five-bed Intensive Care Unit at Vihiga County Referral Hospital.

He also installed the first ever CT SCAN and established a dental clinic.

"Among other highlights is the acquisition and installation of oxygen plant," Ottichilo said.

He said that the county's source of revenue collection shot from Sh93 million in 2016-17 to Sh169 million in 2018-19.

"During my installation as governor here, I undertook to implement my manifesto that focused on improving socio-economic development of the people of Vihiga county," Ottichilo said.

He said that although he has achieved a lot, his administration continues to face a myriad of challenges that hinder timely delivery of planned development activities.

He said his administration has been hurt by huge pending bills that stood at more than Sh2.2 billion when he took over and numerous court cases.

"We have been able to offset part of the bill and, so far, what is remaining is Sh318 million. We have made provisions for servicing the debt," he said.

He cited a blotted wage bill as another challenge, saying the number of workers has been reduced from 4,600 to 1,200.

Edited by A.N