EACC Grills Busia Governor Paul Otuoma Over Ksh1.4 Billion Graft Claims.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has summoned and intensively questioned Busia Governor Paul Otuoma regarding serious claims of systemic corruption and misappropriation of public funds totaling Ksh1.4 billion in the county government.
On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, the governor presented himself at the EACC's Western Regional Offices in Bungoma to record a formal statement. He was treated as a key person of interest in the agency's active inquiry into widespread graft within Busia County.
Investigators are focusing on multiple irregularities, primarily centered on procurement malpractices. These include the questionable awarding of tenders and the disbursement of over Ksh1.4 billion to 26 shell or proxy companies reportedly controlled by relatives and close associates of senior county officials. The transactions span the financial years 2022/2023 through 2024/2025.
A specific portion of the probe highlights Ksh90 million allegedly funneled to four private firms—Baya Farmcare Limited, Leokiz Investment Limited, Multidose Agro Supplies Limited, and one other—said to have connections to Governor Otuoma and his family members.
Additional allegations involve economic crimes tied to the Busia Trailer Park Yard project in the 2023/2024 fiscal year, where procurement processes were allegedly bypassed. The facility was meant to alleviate heavy truck congestion along the Kenya-Uganda border highway and offer parking for over 200 trailers.
Another key issue concerns the unauthorized 25-year lease of a 2.4-hectare public land parcel (Bukhayo/Bugengi/13213) to M/s Athi Limited for trailer parking development. No competitive tendering occurred, and the deal set an annual rent of Ksh1.4 million (with 10% escalations every five years) while allocating only 30% of parking fees to the county and 70% to the contractor—raising fears of substantial public financial exposure.
The EACC's investigation was triggered by a flood of public complaints and referrals from the Senate. Last year, the commission executed searches and actions against several high-ranking Busia 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.
EACC spokesperson Stephen Karuga confirmed the priority status of the case due to intense public concern. He emphasized that once the probe wraps up, the commission will pursue suitable measures—such as recommending prosecutions for those found guilty and initiating recovery of any illicitly gained or unexplained assets.
No immediate comments or rebuttals from Governor Otuoma were detailed in reports from the session. The grilling underscores ongoing efforts to tackle entrenched corruption in devolved county administrations amid calls for greater transparency and accountability in public resource management.
