Vihiga County Announces Changes to Governance Structure and Departments⁩

Governor Wilber Ottichilo has unveiled Executive Order No. 1 of 2026, introducing a sweeping reorganisation of Vihiga County’s executive structure aimed at improving service delivery, strengthening accountability and streamlining public administration.

The reforms, announced on Friday July 24, establish a new governance framework designed to make the public service leaner, more coordinated and more responsive to residents.

According to the Executive Order, the reforms align county departments, functions and staffing arrangements with the Constitution, the County Governments Act, public finance laws, the Fourth Schedule on devolved functions and the Vihiga County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) 2023–2027.

The new framework is also intended to reduce duplication of roles, clarify reporting lines and strengthen institutional accountability across government.

Governor Ottichilo said the restructuring is intended to ensure every office within the county administration serves a clearly defined public purpose while improving the efficiency of service delivery.

“The reform is intended to improve service delivery, reduce duplication, clarify reporting lines, strengthen accountability and ensure that every office in the County public service serves a defined public purpose,” Ottichilo stated.

Executive Order Targets Governance Reforms

The Executive Order outlines several objectives, including creating an organisational structure capable of supporting efficient, effective and sustainable service delivery.

It also seeks to place related functions under appropriate departments, harmonise job titles, strengthen consultation and promote disciplined management of public resources.

The reforms are anchored on five key goals, namely containing the public sector wage bill, aligning departmental functions with the County Integrated Development Plan, minimising conflicts between departments and directorates, aligning governance structures with recognised county government models and strengthening accountability at both institutional and individual levels.

Also Read: BAT Kenya Posts Ksh 12.3 Billion Revenue as Export Growth Cushions Domestic Market Slump

Ten Executive Departments Established

Under the new structure, the County Executive will now operate through ten departments covering Finance and Economic Planning; Physical Planning, Lands, Housing and Urban Development; Environment, Water, Natural Resources and Climate Change; Health Services; Gender, Youth, Sports, Culture and Social Services; Education and Technical Vocational Training; Public Works, Roads and Transport; Trade, Industry, Cooperatives and Tourism; Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Blue Economy; and Public Service, Administration and ICT.

The Executive Order also introduces several departmental name changes aimed at reflecting emerging priorities and grouped functions.

Transport and Infrastructure has been renamed Public Works, Roads and Transport, while Commerce, Tourism and Cooperatives has become Trade, Industry, Cooperatives and Tourism.

Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries has been expanded to include the Blue Economy, while Public Service and Administration has been renamed Public Service, Administration and ICT.

Staffing Reforms and Skills Audit

The Executive Order further introduces a revised staff establishment as part of the broader reforms.

The approved establishment now stands at 4,415 positions, down from the previous 6,324 positions, excluding municipal administrations and the Vihiga County Teaching and Referral Hospital.

The document says the move is intended to support fiscal discipline, contain the wage bill and ensure responsible deployment of public resources.

Vacant positions will be filled progressively over six years based on workload, affordability, skills availability and service delivery priorities.

Recruitment procedures have also been revised, requiring departments to initiate staffing requests before they undergo review by the Director of Human Resource Management and Development and subsequent transmission to the County Public Service Board through the Office of the County Secretary.

The County Treasury must first confirm the availability of funds before any recruitment proceeds.

County Public Service Board has also been tasked with conducting a comprehensive skills audit to identify competency gaps, align employees with approved staffing structures and recommend interventions including retraining, redeployment, retooling or separation where necessary.

The county will also develop career guidelines to define qualifications, job descriptions, progression pathways and accountability standards while ensuring an orderly transition that does not disrupt public service delivery.

Also Read: Most ODM Supporters Back Sifuna as Ruto Remains Most Popular Presidential Candidate

Governor Calls for Results-Oriented Public Service

The Executive Order further provides for deployment of cross-cutting support staff, including finance officers, ICT personnel, administrators, human resource officers and records management officers through designated departments and offices.

It also recognises the operational independence of the Vihiga County Teaching and Referral Hospital together with Vihiga, Kaimosi and Luanda municipalities by separating their staffing establishments from the County Executive structure.

Concluding the announcement, Governor Ottichilo said the reforms must ultimately translate into tangible improvements in public service and the lives of residents.

“Executive Order No. 1 of 2026 and the new organisational structure give us a foundation for an efficient, transparent, inclusive and development-oriented County Government. We must now move from structure to performance, from reform to results, and from intention to measurable improvement in the lives of our people,” Ottichilo concluded.

Follow our WhatsApp channel for instant news updates

A photo of Vihiga County government headquarters building in Vihiga county. Photo/ file