By Joshua Otieno | February 26, 2026
The Senate County Public Investments and Special Funds Committee on Wednesday, February 25, held an oversight hearing to examine the financial status of Vihiga County Referral Hospital.
The session, chaired by Senator Godfrey Osotsi, focused on the Auditor General’s report for the 2024/2025 financial year. Governor Wilber Ottichilo and his executive team appeared before the committee to respond to a qualified audit opinion that highlighted major fiscal gaps.
The audit revealed discrepancies in medical and clinical costs, with financial statements indicating expenditure of KSh 49.3 million while supporting schedules showed KSh 71 million, leaving an unreconciled variance of over KSh 21.6 million. The report also flagged KSh 116 million in uncollected receivables following the transition to the Social Health Authority.
Senator Osotsi questioned the hospital’s handling of patient bill waivers amounting to KSh 2.6 million, noting the absence of clear criteria or approval from the county treasury, contrary to the Public Finance Management Act.
The committee further raised concerns over human resource and procurement breaches, including the engagement of 46 casual workers for more than three years and unplanned emergency repairs worth KSh 5.4 million.
Governor Ottichilo acknowledged the findings and assured senators that corrective measures were underway, including regularising staff, establishing a Waiver and Exemption Committee, and upgrading the hospital’s accounting systems.
The committee directed the hospital management to submit all missing documents and resolve outstanding financial variances before September.
