Busia Governor Paul Otuoma on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, appeared before the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Western Regional Offices in Bungoma to record a statement over ongoing investigations in which he is a person of interest.
The EACC confirmed that the investigations arise from numerous reports by members of the public and the Senate alleging entrenched corruption and theft of public funds within the Busia County Government.
The alleged schemes largely involve revenue diversion and procurement fraud through proxy companies.
According to the Commission, investigators are probing the irregular 26 proxy companies allegedly operated by family members and close associates of senior Busia County officials, including the Governor.
The transactions are said to have occurred during the 2022/ 2023 award of tenders and payments amounting to over KSh 1.4 billion to 2024/2025 financial years.
Of particular interest is KSh90, 031, 678.45 reportedly paid to four private entities; Baya Farmcare Limited, Leokiz Investment Limited and Multidose Agro Supplies Limited which the Commission alleges are linked to Governor Otuoma and 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 KSh 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, Otuoma said that as stipulated in the constitution, EACC is supposed 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.
