Busia governor Paul Otuoma addressing the press at Western region EACC offices in Bungoma on Tuesday/NELSON MUSUNGU

By Nelson Musungu

Busia Governor Paul Otuoma on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, presented himself at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Western Regional offices in Bungoma, where he recorded a statement in connection with investigations into alleged corruption within the Busia County Government.

The anti-graft agency said Governor Otuoma is a person of interest in probes triggered by multiple complaints from members of the public and the Senate, citing widespread corruption and misappropriation of public funds in the county.

According to the EACC, the investigations centre on alleged revenue diversion and procurement irregularities involving proxy companies linked to senior county officials.

Investigators are examining 26 companies suspected to be owned or controlled by family members and close associates of top Busia County officials, including the Governor.

The firms are alleged to have irregularly benefited from county tenders awarded during the 2022/2023 financial year, with payments stretching into the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 financial periods.

The total value of the questioned tenders and payments is estimated at over Sh1.4 billion.

Among the transactions under scrutiny is a payment of Sh90,031,678.45 made to four private entities; Baya Farmcare Limited, Leokiz Investment Limited and Multidose Agro Supplies Limited, which the Commission claims have links to Governor Otuoma and members of his family.

As part of the investigations, the EACC last year conducted search operations targeting several senior county officials, including Finance CEC Topister Wanyama, Lands CEC Peter Odima, Youth and Sports CEC Paul Olunga, Finance Chief Officer, Gypson Ojiambo Wafula, Budget Director Evans Wandera and Supply Chain Management Director Leonard Omacha.

The Commission is also investigating alleged irregular procurement and economic crimes related to the construction of the Busia Trailer Park Yard during the 2023/2024 financial year.

It is alleged that the County Government irregularly leased public land parcel number Bukhayo/Bugengi/13213 measuring approximately 2.4 hectares without a competitive tendering process.

Under the agreement in question, the land was leased to M/s Athi Limited for 25 years at an annual rent of Sh 1.4 million with a 10 percent escalation every five years.

Parking revenue from the facility was to be shared at 30 percent for the County Government and 70 percent for Athi Limited, a deal investigators say may have exposed the public to loss.

The trailer park project was initiated to ease traffic congestion along the highway caused by trailers crossing the Kenya–Uganda border and was intended to accommodate over 200 trailers alongside ancillary services.

Speaking at EACC Western region office in Bungoma after undergoing grilling for eight hours, Busia governor Paul Otuoma, said that as stipulated in the constitution is to prevent corruption to enhance and strengthen institutions.

He noted that EACC invited him to clarify on some issues that arose in Busia on trailer parks and procurement matters affirming that he has been able to provide details over the same.

“We have provided all the requested information so that as an investigative body looks into it, so that they make conclusions, some matters are not new, some are already in the public domain, some are already in the senate through the auditor general’s report,” the governor noted.

The ODM governor added that specific issues for him being invited at the EACC offices were procurement matters to do with trailer parks.

Ends