Get used to my leadership – Governor Ottichilo tells off critics after re-election

Vihiga Governor Wilberforce Ottichilo has asked his critics to embrace his administration as he begins his second term in office.

Speaking after his inauguration, Ottichilo, whose second and final term expires in 2027, hilariously recounted how his critics wanted to hound him out of office even before the August 9 polls.

“To those who hated me and wished me to pack for my Emanyinya village, I feel sorry because you don’t have a choice rather than accepting me as your governor for another five years,” Ottichilo said amid smiles.

He jokingly asked the critics to get used to him after taking an oath of office on Thursday, August 24.

“You saw Justice David Kemei, as instructed by the Chief Justice, swore me as Vihiga governor on Thursday, so get used to me,” he said.

He added: “It’s now vice versa because I am going back to Mbale offices as you go home.”

Governor Ottichilo was sworn in at Kidundu stadium alongside his new deputy Wilberforce Kitiezo.

During the campaign period, a section of residents taunted the county boss, asking him to prepare to go to his Emanyinya home.

“Some people have grown the tendency of asking me to leave for home, I know the way to my home, you don’t need to tell me,” he said at a campaign forum.

But as fate would have it, the governor, who ran on an ODM party ticket, secured a second term in office after garnering 82,313 votes, beating his closest challenger former governor Moses Akaranga who managed 42,432 votes.