TWV Investigations Desk
A storm is brewing in Busia County following a high-profile raid by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) targeting senior county officials at the centre of a Sh1.4 billion procurement scandal. The dramatic operation, carried out on Wednesday, 6th August 2025, sent shockwaves across the devolved unit, exposing a festering culture of graft, mismanagement, and political infighting.
The early morning raid, sanctioned by court orders, saw EACC detectives descend on county government offices and private residences of top officials, catching many by surprise and sending panic across the administrative corridors. By late afternoon, three County Executive Committee (CEC) members, one Chief Officer, and two departmental directors had been apprehended and escorted to the EACC regional office in Kakamega for interrogation.
Also in custody are Gypson Ojiambo Wafula, Chief Officer for Finance, ICT and Economic Planning; Evans Wandera Wangata, Director of Budget; and Leonard Omacha, Director of Supply Chain Management. [Photo: Courtesy]
According to EACC Director General Abdi Mohamud, the operation was part of an ongoing investigation into serious allegations of procurement irregularities, conflict of interest, unexplained wealth, and theft of public funds. “The Commission has today conducted a successful search operation targeting six senior officials of the County Government of Busia,” he said in a statement. “The search yielded valuable evidentiary materials that will inform the next phase of the investigation, including possible prosecution and recovery of corruptly acquired assets.”
The probe centres on tenders worth over Sh1.4 billion allegedly awarded to 26 proxy companies linked to senior officials. Insiders suggest that the contracts were deliberately structured to funnel public funds through fronts, effectively laundering taxpayers’ money under the guise of development spending.
Further fuelling public outrage is a separate exposé by Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, who has accused the county government of attempting to irregularly acquire land it already owns. The controversial case involves a proposal to purchase Amoni Market land in Malaba Town for Sh200 million, a parcel legally registered as LR. No. South Teso/Osurete/964 is already under county ownership.
According to Senator Omtatah, the original title deed has been unlawfully subdivided into nine plots, with new titles reportedly issued to proxies of senior county officials. “This is a classic case of abuse of office and betrayal of public trust. It is outright theft,” he said. “I have formally notified the EACC and will move to court to recover the land and have the fraudulent titles quashed.”
Omtatah’s revelations have intensified scrutiny of the county administration, with critics pointing to a broader pattern of corruption and land grabbing disguised as strategic investment. He has demanded an immediate halt to any transactions involving the said land and urged the relevant institutions to intervene.
In a strongly worded rebuttal, the County Government of Busia dismissed Omtatah’s claims as “fabricated, baseless, and politically motivated.” Through a press release, the administration accused the Senator of conducting an unauthorised audit of county accounts and misrepresenting facts for personal and political gain.
“Let it be made abundantly clear: a Senator cannot, and does not, have the mandate to singly audit County accounts,” read the statement. “His purported audit lacks legal grounding and institutional legitimacy.”
The county further warned that Omtatah’s actions may violate sections of the Leadership and Integrity Act and the Penal Code, hinting at possible legal action. As the corruption saga unfolds, the county’s healthcare crisis is also drawing national attention. Senator Omtatah has raised alarm over the deteriorating state of medical services, citing inadequate infrastructure, drug shortages, delayed salaries, and a worrying absence of qualified personnel.
According to Omtatah, flagship facilities such as the Busia County Referral Hospital, designated a Level 5 institution, are functioning below capacity, forcing residents to seek care outside the county. “The healthcare system is in critical disrepair,” he said. “Essential services like radiology, caesarean sections, and specialist care are unavailable in most sub-county hospitals.”
He has called on the Senate Standing Committee on Health to conduct a thorough investigation and recommend emergency interventions. Specific attention has been drawn to Sh4.9 million reportedly spent on questionable consultancies, abandoned health facilities, and the lack of implementation of the Busia County Facility Improvement Financing Act, 2024.
Observers believe the EACC raid and subsequent revelations are symptomatic of deeper governance failures. Despite receiving billions in devolved funds annually, Busia County appears trapped in a vicious cycle of underdevelopment, poor service delivery, and institutional decay, largely due to entrenched corruption networks.
The unfolding crisis could have significant political implications ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Omtatah positioning himself as an anti-corruption crusader while Governor Paul Otuoma’s administration battles to contain the damage.
As investigations continue, the people of Busia, and indeed Kenya, await answers. Will the anti-corruption dragnet tighten further? Will stolen public assets be recovered? And more importantly, will the residents finally see justice, accountability, and restored public trust?
For now, the county remains on edge, caught between competing narratives of transparency and impunity. The Weekly Vision will continue to monitor this story as it develops.
