The Senate Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has cracked the whip on the Vihiga County administration, ordering Governor Wilberforce Ottichilo to immediately recover Ksh 1.9 million in unpaid staff loans.

The directive follows a damning audit report that exposed a culture of financial laxity within the county executive. The funds in question relate to salary advances and car loans issued to staff who have since left the county service or died, leaving the taxpayer holding the bag.

The "Ghost Loan" Scandal

During a heated session, auditors revealed that Ksh 1.7 million was owed by ten former staff members. Five had resigned or been dismissed, while one was deceased. The committee expressed disbelief that the county had no mechanism to recover these funds from the employees' final dues.

"This is public money, not charity," declared the PAC Chair. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-21)"You cannot just write it off as 'doubtful debt.' The accounting officers who authorized these payments without securing them must be surcharged."

• Systemic Rot: This is not the first time Vihiga has been in the spotlight. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-23)Previous audits have flagged "ghost workers" and irregular hiring of minors. The unpaid loans are seen as symptomatic of a wider failure in internal controls.
• The Governor's Defense: Governor Ottichilo's team argued that they are pursuing the defaulters, but admitted that tracing former employees has been difficult. The PAC dismissed this, giving the county a strict ultimatum to show proof of recovery measures.

Accountability on Trial

The ruling sets a precedent for other counties where "salary advances" are often treated as soft loans with no repayment plans. The message from the Senate is clear: the party is over.

For the residents of Vihiga, who struggle with delayed services, the news that millions are sitting in the pockets of former staff is a bitter pill. They now wait to see if the Governor will act, or if the "ghosts" of Vihiga will get away with it yet again.