Senate grills Vihiga Governor Ottichilo over Amatsi water losses
By Enock Amukhale, January 24, 2026Vihiga Governor Wilbur Ottichilo appeared before the Senate Committee on County Public Investments and Special Funds at Bunge Tower, where he responded to the Auditor-General’s reports.
During the appearance on Friday, January 2026, before the county Public Investment and Special Funds Committee, chaired by Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, noted governance concerns at the Vihiga Amatsi Water Services Company.
The committee noted that the audit paints a troubling picture of deep-rooted financial, governance and operational failures at Vihiga Amatsi Water Company.
They questioned the unacceptable levels of non-revenue water, unsupported expenditures and weak internal controls, which they attributed to systemic leadership failure rather than isolated or inherited challenges.
“It is not credible for management to appear before the Committee year after year with the same explanations of ageing infrastructure and future plans while current losses continue unabated, because leadership must take responsibility for what is happening today and not defer accountability indefinitely,” posed Senator Osotsi.
Senator Osostsi’s remarks
Senator Osotsi observed that when a company produces water worth about Ksh229 million but fails to bill water valued at roughly Ksh89 million—amounting to 44 per cent non-revenue water, far above the WASREB threshold—then strategies that do not yield tangible results cannot be used as a justification for such massive losses.
He said the Committee were not persuaded by explanations that focused on meetings held or equipment procured without clear evidence of impact, and they remain concerned by unresolved prior-year audit issues, questionable board allowances, weak revenue systems and persistent governance breaches.
“I wish to state clearly that unless Amatsi demonstrates measurable and sustained improvement, continued losses of this magnitude will amount to sanctioned waste of public resources, which this Committee will not hesitate to act on in fulfilment of its oversight mandate,” said Osotsi.
Vihiga County residents have decried the interrupted water supply by the Vihiga Amatsi water company.
Water taps have constantly remained dry despite the county being accessible to water sources.
The Vihiga cluster water project has since stalled despite President William Ruto promising to help Vihiga County complete the project.
Governor’s defense
Governor Ottichilo, through the Amatsi water company, in their defence, said the company makes losses through water theft, water leakages after damage to water supply pipes, vandalism, old machines, unmetered water supply and unsettled bills to the company by institutions that consume the company’s water.
Ottichilo also promised to ensure the management of Vihiga Amatsi Water Company puts in place a proper mechanism to avoid such losses.
He also promised to pay Kenya Power their outstanding power supply bill of Ksh16 million to avoid power cut-off. He said power cut-off is a big problem devolving water supply.
He also promised to streamline the management of the water company as advised by the senate committee.
“Through your advice I will ensure the management of Amatsi Water Company is streamlined. The company is facing a lot of challenges, but we shall rectify them. We have agreed to pay Kenya Power their outstanding bill of Ksh.16 million to ensure there is no power cut-off,” said Ottichilo.
Ottichilo also promised to bail out debts the institutions in Vihiga owe the company and start operating on a clean sheet.