Omtatah: County accountability on funds is non-negotiable
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has intensified his call for transparency in county governments, urging fellow senators to initiate forensic audits in their devolved units.
This follows a damning report he commissioned on Busia County’s finances for the 2022/23 financial year, which exposed a Ksh5.2 billion loss through what he termed a “deliberate, orchestrated looting scheme.”
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On Saturday, July 26, 2025, Omtatah took to his X account, saying the audit revealed massive financial mismanagement and misuse of public funds meant for development projects.
“The forensic audit I commissioned into Busia County’s finances for FY 2022/23 has exposed a looting scheme of over Ksh 5.2 billion—money meant for development, stolen in plain sight,” he said.
The audit was conducted by independent financial expert Mr. Muchere and painted a grim picture of corruption in the county. According to Omtatah, despite the billions spent, there is little to show on the ground, while some individuals are amassing wealth through luxury homes and booming businesses.
Oversight bodies
The senator called on national oversight institutions, accusing the Office of the Auditor-General and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) of neglecting their mandate. “The Auditor-General gave Busia County a clean bill of health despite the glaring rot. That is why I moved to seek an independent expert to uncover the truth,” he explained.
Omtatah expressed frustration over repeated attempts to seek justice through official channels, which he claims have been met with resistance. He cited the Auditor-General’s failure to honour Senate summons and the difficulties he faced accessing financial documents during the latest FY 2023/24 audit.
“We’re now auditing 2023/24 and already facing resistance similar to last year. I had to go to court to compel the governor and county government to grant access to financial records,” he said.
Despite the setbacks, Omtatah has vowed to pursue accountability relentlessly. “I’m not backing down. I’ll face the Auditor-General, and I’ll get the truth,” he stated.
Call for nationwide action
Omtatah framed his campaign as part of a larger movement to restore integrity in Kenya’s governance structures. “This isn’t just about Busia. It’s about building the second Republic—where the Constitution is not ornamental but a promise that no Kenyan will be robbed of their future by the greed of the few,” he said.
He urged senators across the country to launch similar audits in their respective counties, warning that the era of unchecked corruption must come to an end. “Recovery is justice. Transparency is peace. And accountability is non-negotiable. The era of impunity is over,” he declared.
Omtatah’s firm stance may signal a renewed push for reforms and tighter oversight across devolved units. Whether other senators will follow his lead remains to be seen.
