By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 31 January 2026 - Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi’s claim that he is being threatened over his oversight role has cast fresh light on the deepening political tensions between the Senate and county executives, particularly in counties grappling with persistent audit queries and governance concerns.
The outspoken senator says he has received threatening text messages warning him to soften his scrutiny of the Vihiga County Executive, a revelation that underscores the political risks faced by legislators who take a hard line on accountability.
Speaking to congregants in Sabatia Sub-county on Saturday, Osotsi struck a defiant tone, vowing not to bow to intimidation or political pressure.
“I am being threatened because of playing my oversight role. Some people are sending me threats through text messages on my phone, threatening me,” Osotsi said.
Osotsi framed the threats as evidence that his oversight work is unsettling entrenched interests within the county government, insisting that he was elected by the people of Vihiga to hold the executive accountable—not to provide political cover..
“I was elected as senator to play my oversight role. If I fail to oversee the executive, then I will have failed the people of Vihiga,” he said.
Oversight vs Political Survival
Osotsi’s remarks come at a time when Senate oversight of county governments has increasingly become a flashpoint, often pitting senators against governors and powerful county bureaucracies. While oversight is constitutionally mandated, it frequently attracts accusations of witch-hunts, political sabotage, or personal vendettas.
In Vihiga, the tension appears to be fueled by a growing list of audit queries raised by the Office of the Auditor General—queries that Osotsi says cannot be ignored.
“Vihiga County has a lot of audit queries which the Senate is trying to interrogate. Every leader should focus on his or her mandate so that Kenyans, and the people of Vihiga in particular, can get services and development,” he said.
Spotlight on Public Funds and Parastatals
Among the issues drawing the senator’s scrutiny is the Vihiga Amatsi Water Company which Osotsi claims is losing millions of shillings through what he described as a syndicate benefiting a few individuals.
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According to the senator, the matter has escalated beyond political debate, prompting the Senate to involve the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate the alleged financial leakages.
“The water company is losing millions of shillings which end up in the pockets of a few people,” Osotsi said.
Beyond the water company, Osotsi cited unresolved audit concerns surrounding major county projects, including the official residence of the Vihiga governor, the Vihiga County Referral Plaza, and other high-value expenditures flagged by auditors.
Governor Back Before the Senate
The standoff is set to intensify further, with Osotsi revealing that Governor Wilber Ottichilo is expected back in the Senate next week to respond to audit queries related to the management of Vihiga Teaching and Referral Hospital.
This follows a recent grilling of county officials over a controversial KSh 5 million house-warming expenditure, a matter that has sparked widespread debate among Vihiga residents and renewed questions about priorities in public spending.
A Broader Political Signal
Osotsi’s claims of intimidation point to a broader national concern: whether robust oversight can survive in an increasingly politicised environment where accountability is often interpreted as hostility.
For his supporters, Osotsi’s stance reinforces his image as a no-nonsense watchdog determined to protect public resources. For his critics, his aggressive oversight risks escalating political instability within the county.
What is clear, however, is that Vihiga County has become a key test case for the strength of Senate oversight—and whether elected leaders can question power without fear.
As audit interrogations continue and political temperatures rise, Osotsi’s defiance signals that the battle over accountability in devolved governments is far from over.
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