EACC summons Busia Governor Paul Otuoma over Ksh1.4 billion graft allegations
EACC summons Busia Governor Paul Otuoma over Ksh1.4 billion graft allegations
Busia Governor Paul Otuoma appeared before the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) at their Western Regional Offices in Bungoma on Tuesday morning after being summoned over allegations of graft involving about Ksh1.4 billion in the county government.
The probe stems from numerous reports from the public and the Senate regarding entrenched corruption and misappropriation of public funds in Busia County, largely through revenue diversion and procurement fraud using proxy companies.
The investigation centres on the irregular award of tenders and payments totalling over Ksh1.4 billion to 26 proxy companies reportedly operated by relatives and associates of senior county officials, including the governor, during the 2022/23 to 2024/25 financial years.
Of this amount, Ksh90,031,678.45 was allegedly paid to four private entities, linked to the governor and his family.The EACC had previously conducted a search operation targeting senior officials in Busia County, including those overseeing finance, land, youth and sports, and supply chain management.
The probe also focuses on irregular procurement and economic crimes related to the construction of the Busia Trailer Park Yard during the 2023/24 financial year.
The County Government of Busia allegedly leased public land, parcel number Bukhayo/Bugengi/13213, covering approximately 2.4 hectares, to a private company for the project without a proper tendering process.
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According to preliminary investigations, under the 25-year agreement, the county is set to receive an annual rent of Ksh1.4 million, which is scheduled to increase by 10 per cent every five years.
Additionally, parking revenue from the site is to be shared, with 30 per cent going to the County Government and 70 per cent to the contractor, a structure that has raised concerns about potential public loss.
The project was initiated to create a parking yard to accommodate over 200 trailers and provide ancillary services for modern trailer park infrastructure, in response to public outcry over traffic congestion along the highway caused by trailers crossing the Kenya-Uganda border.
“The Commission appreciates that the Busia County investigations have attracted substantial public and stakeholder interest and has prioritised the same. Upon conclusion, the Commission will take appropriate action, including recommendations for prosecution of culpable officials and recovery of any corruptly acquired unexplained wealth held by the officials,” the commission said.
Meanwhile, in August last year, Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah wrote to the EACC demanding urgent investigations into claims of massive corruption within the county, which he alleged resulted in a loss of Ksh5.2 billion.
In a letter dated August 25, 2025, the Senator formally petitioned the anti-graft body to launch criminal investigations against county officials and other implicated individuals, following what he described as a systemic looting of taxpayer funds.
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