Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has expressed concern over the mismanagement of resources in the devolved unit following the Auditor General’s report for the 2023/2024 financial year.
In a statement on X on Monday, May 26, 2025, Omtatah lamented that the extent of the financial misdeeds uncovered is staggering and cannot be ignored.
He stated that he will ensure those responsible for the mismanagement and administrative failures in the county are held accountable.
“We must restore integrity, transparency, and effective management of public resources in Busia County,” he stated.
“The people of Busia deserve better; they are not children of a lesser God. They deserve leadership that prioritises their needs and serves them with dignity.”
According to Omtatah, the auditor general’s report highlights serious irregularities, with Ksh2.1 billion spent on goods and services, yet millions in travel, hospitality, and other payments remain undocumented and untraceable.
a past event. PHOTO/@Okiyaomtatah/X
“To make matters worse, an additional Ksh2.1 billion in payments have been voided without any explanation, further compounding the financial chaos,” he decried.
Further, he stated that in procurement, Ksh24.5 million was spent on tractors that lack number plates, and Ksh418 million in pending bills remains unexplained.
“ Even more concerning, a Ksh9.7 million refrigerated truck has fallen into a state of disrepair, with no clear justification for its poor management,” he added.
Auditor general’s report
The Auditor General also flagged numerous failed projects, including Ksh40 million spent on the reorganisation of Busia Town, but no supporting documentation was provided.
He stated that other projects, like a filleting room, were abandoned, and Ksh2 million was wasted on a collapsed wall, and unfinished work has left many taxpayer-funded initiatives in disarray.
To add to that, the senator stated that the county assembly’s budget has also breached the legal cap by Ksh981 million.
The report reveals that employee wages have reached 39% of total revenue, surpassing the legal threshold, while 88% of county staff belong to a single ethnic group, violating national diversity laws.
The report also pointed out the lack of accountability, with no financial statements submitted for municipalities or hospitals and tenders being awarded without proper documentation, in clear violation of public procurement regulations.
This comes a few weeks after two ODM-nominated MCAs engaged in a boxing match in the Busia County Assembly on May 13, 2025.
The two MCAs, Irene Eduwa and Angelinah Wasike, showcased their punching skills with no technical knock-outs over the looming impeachment motion on CECM Topista Wanyama and her Chief Officer Gipson Wafula over gross misconduct, abuse of office and allegations of massive corruption amounting to millions in cash.
This is the second time in less than 2 months that Busia MCAs engaged in a physical fight to defend the Busia governor, Paul Otuoma’s administration, amid the ongoing public outcry over the massive corruption and incompetence of some ministers serving in his government.
