Vihiga County Governor Dr. Wilbur Ottichillo has sparked a stir today after revealing the massive embezzlement of Ksh 800 million in donor funds that were meant to improve agricultural productivity in the county.

The second-term county boss, who was addressing groups of farmers set to benefit from other donor-funded agricultural projects this year, expressed deep disappointment in what he described as the grand mismanagement of Ksh 1 billion, which the devolved unit received as grants from the World Bank’s National Agricultural and Rural Inclusive Growth Project (NARIGP).

Despite the funds being disbursed by NARIGP, Governor Ottichillo states that no single project can be shown to justify the absorption of the Ksh 1 billion in donor funds.

The funds were intended to support local agricultural production, targeting dairy farming, fish farming, poultry, and other projects, which the governor says cannot be justified.

Governor Ottichillo also revealed how the embezzlement led to Vihiga’s disqualification from the second phase of the NARIGP project.

Ottichillo mentions that it took his personal intervention to save the county from being completely shut out of the donor-funded initiative.

Vihiga, one of the smallest counties in the country with a population of about 600,000 people, is known for its robust resource mobilization strategies in health, climate change, and agriculture sectors. However, Governor Ottichillo has warned that the potential benefits of donor funds may not be realized if mismanagement continues.

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