Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has formally petitioned the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate what he terms systemic fraud within the Busia County Executive, where over Kshs. 5.2 billion remains unaccounted for.

In his letter dated August 25, 2025, Omtatah cited findings from an independent fraud audit report he commissioned and released in July 2025, alongside analyses of the Auditor-General’s Report for the year ended June 30, 2023.

The report exposes what Omtatah describes as “deliberate misappropriation and embezzlement of taxpayer money” through inflated budgets, duplicate Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) account codes, unauthorised expenditures, and other financial irregularities.

“The blatant looting of taxpayer money demands immediate action because it undermines service delivery and constitutes a serious violation of the law, including constitutional principles of accountability, transparency, and prudent use of public resources,” part of Omtatah’s letter to the EACC Chief Executive Officer reads.

The particular letter has been copied to President William Ruto, Busia Governor Paul Otuoma, the Controller of Budget, and the Auditor-General.

According to Omtatah, Busia County officials failed to prepare and submit individual financial statements for their ministries and departments, instead consolidating accounts that were not backed by proper documentation. This irregular process, he notes, left a staggering Ksh5.2 billion unaccounted for.

The legislator further accused senior members of the County Executive, under Governor Otuoma, of dismissing the audit report as fabricated without offering substantive rebuttals or seeking legal recourse to clear their names.

Omtatah has urged the EACC to:

1. Initiate credible criminal investigations by summoning county officials, the Controller of Budget, and the Auditor-General, seizing financial records, and conducting lifestyle audits to trace illegally acquired property.
2. Institute criminal proceedings against those found culpable of fraud, embezzlement, and abuse of office, ensuring that no one is shielded by political or personal connections.
3. Recover lost public funds in the interest of Busia residents and Kenyan taxpayers, while imposing strict penalties to deter future corruption.

“Failure to act expeditiously on this matter will erode public trust in law enforcement, including the justice system, and perpetuate impunity among public officials,” Omtatah warned.

The Senator, who has built a reputation as a fierce defender of public accountability, expressed concern that compromised EACC officials in the past have “aided and abetted corruption by colluding with suspects to handle cases with kid gloves.” He called on the Commission to act decisively this time to safeguard public interest.