Vihiga County Governor Dr Wilber Ottichilo has warned the council of elders in Vihiga County against being confused by handouts from politicians to influence their decision-making.

Ottichilo, while addressing Vihiga residents on Saturday, December 20, 2025, during the house-warming of the official Vihiga governor’s residence in Sabatia, observed that some of the elders are being coerced by money from politicians to make decisions in their favour.

He urged the elders in various communities to transact their duties effectively without looking at who has given them money or not.

He said elders are supposed to have a sober and firm stand while performing their roles.

He urged the council of elders to preach unity, peace and cohesion among the communities they represent instead of chasing money from politicians.

“I am appealing to our council of elders to have a firm stand in their roles. The behaviour of moving from one place to another, looking for handouts, should stop.

I have noted some of you are losing network and hovering around like a flying flag. Be firm in your decision-making and help our people and Kenyans live peacefully,” urged Ottichilo.

Message to politicians

Ottichilo also asked politicians to stop dividing electorates on the tribal lines.

He decried that most of the politicians are busy playing tribal politics.

He pointed at Vihiga County, where politicians vying for various top county political seats are busy playing clanism politics.

He said in Vihiga County there are three big clans – Banyore, Maragoli and Tiriki – that are being divided by politicians.

“We have politicians who are playing clanism politics as they seek top county political seats. I am appealing to them to stop playing clanism politics and dividing voters on their tribal lines. We must live as one people peacefully,” urged Ottichilo.

Governor Ottichilo, who is serving his second and last term, urged electorates to elect their leaders wisely.

He asked them not to be influenced by the handouts the politicians dish out to them or their clans.

He asked electorates not to auction their votes to politicians in exchange for handouts.

“We are approaching the 2027 general elections. I am appealing to electorates, especially here in Vihiga County, not to auction your votes for handouts from politicians.

“You will end up electing the wrong person. Exercise your democratic right by voting for leaders with good leadership qualities. If you elect leaders based on the amount of handouts they dish out, then you will suffer,” warned Ottichilo.

He added, “Let us stop the politics of clanism. Let us live in unity without looking at one as Banyore, Marogoli or Tiriki.”

Ottichilo said the politicians will want to recover their money fast at the expense of development and service delivery.