Busia politics has taken a new twist after Senator Okiya Omtatah raised fresh concerns about alleged large-scale corruption in the county.
The Senator, who has built a reputation for challenging misuse of public funds, has accused Governor Paul Otuoma’s administration of overseeing a looting spree that has cost taxpayers Ksh5.2 billion.
His claims are detailed in a petition filed with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, in which he calls for urgent criminal investigations and arrests.
Omtatah’s case is built on a fraud audit report he commissioned in July 2025. The report reviewed the Auditor-General’s findings on Busia County Executive’s financial statements for the year ending June 2023.
According to him, the analysis revealed deliberate manipulation of financial systems, use of duplicate Integrated Financial Management Information System account codes, inflated budgets, and unauthorised spending.
He argued that the county finance department failed to prepare proper departmental accounts, opting instead for consolidated reports that conveniently left out key details.
In his view, this concealment created loopholes that allowed funds to disappear without trace.
The Senator insists that the irregularities were not random mistakes but a calculated plan to defraud the people of Busia.
He has accused senior county officials working under Governor Otuoma of violating the Constitution, the Public Finance Management Act, and other financial laws.
Among his demands to the EACC are lifestyle audits of implicated officers, seizure of financial documents, and recovery of property suspected to have been acquired through corruption.
In his letter dated August 25, 2025, Omtatah asked the EACC to exercise its constitutional powers and take immediate action against the Governor’s inner circle.
He also directed blame at national oversight offices, including the Controller of Budget and the Auditor-General, accusing them of failing to detect or stop the fraud.
To increase pressure, he has given the Commission seven days to provide a written response on how it intends to handle the matter and recover the lost money.
The Senator did not spare the Commission itself, saying some of its officers had previously shielded suspects in earlier corruption scandals in the county.
According to him, this inaction only encouraged the current wave of theft. Still, he expressed confidence that the present leadership at the EACC could restore public trust by acting firmly on the scandal.
The allegations have sparked anxiety in Busia, with residents demanding explanations on how billions meant for roads, health services, and schools disappeared. Civil society groups have also joined in, urging arrests and freezing of assets belonging to those mentioned in the petition.
Governor Otuoma has yet to respond publicly, but pressure is mounting on his administration.
Observers believe the unfolding scandal could destabilise the county government and heighten the political rivalry between Omtatah and the Governor, setting the stage for a fierce confrontation in the months ahead.
