By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 21 May 2026 - Vihiga County has received rare praise from the Senate after lawmakers declared themselves satisfied with the county’s handling of millions of shillings allocated for climate resilience projects.
The Senate Finance and Budget Committee, chaired by Ali Roba, concluded an inspection tour of projects funded under the Financing Locally Led Climate Action programme, commonly known as FLLoCA.
The initiative, backed by the Kenyan government and the World Bank, is designed to channel climate financing directly to counties facing growing environmental pressures.
More than KSh 515 million has been invested jointly by FLLoCA and the Vihiga County administration in projects intended to strengthen resilience against drought, water shortages and environmental degradation.
“We are here to put a face to the projects undertaken through this funding,” Senator Roba said during the inspection.
“From what we have seen, the county has done a commendable job in ensuring the funds are used for the intended purpose.”
The committee inspected water pans, solar-powered boreholes and agroforestry projects across Sabatia, Hamisi and Luanda sub-counties. Lawmakers also reviewed embankment works aimed at reducing the impact of flooding in vulnerable communities.
The visit comes at a time of heightened scrutiny over how devolved governments are managing climate financing. Billions of shillings are increasingly being directed towards local adaptation programmes as Kenya confronts worsening climate shocks, including prolonged droughts and destructive floods.
Committee vice-chairperson Tabitha Mutinda said Vihiga had distinguished itself through community participation in project selection and implementation, a key requirement under the FLLoCA framework.
“FLLoCA is about locally-led action, and Vihiga has demonstrated that when communities are involved, projects succeed,” she said.
“This is a model other counties should emulate.”
The inspection also drew prominent political figures, including Boni Khalwale, Godfrey Osotsi and nominated senator Essy Okenyuri.
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Their presence reflected the increasing political importance attached to climate financing within Kenya’s devolved system of government.
Dr Khalwale argued that transparent use of conditional grants was essential if counties hoped to attract continued international support.
“When money is used well, more funding follows. Vihiga is setting the pace,” he said.
The praise directed at Vihiga is likely to strengthen the county’s standing as national debate intensifies over accountability in devolved spending. Climate financing has emerged as one of the fastest-growing areas of donor support, but concerns persist over oversight, transparency and project delivery in several counties.
Governor Wilber Ottichilo said his administration had prioritised water security, agriculture and disaster risk reduction under the programme.
He described the projects as critical interventions for communities increasingly exposed to climate-related disruptions.
“These funds have helped us protect livelihoods from drought and floods,” Governor Ottichilo said.
“We thank the Senate for oversight and FLLoCA for the partnership.”
The Senate committee is expected to table its findings before Parliament in what could shape future deliberations on climate financing and county performance. For Vihiga, the endorsement offers both political capital and a signal to development partners that devolved climate funding can deliver visible results when properly managed.