The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has launched investigations into a controversial land deal in Busia County, where the County Government allegedly allocated Ksh.200 million to purchase a parcel of land that Senator Okiya Omtatah insists is already public property.
In a letter addressed to the County Government and copied to the EACC, Senator Omtatah raised alarm over the intended acquisition of land earmarked for the construction of Amoni Market in Malaba Town. He claims that the land, valued at Ksh.20 million, was acquired by the defunct Busia County Council in 1990 from one John Ouma Ogalo, and therefore rightfully belongs to the County Government.
EACC Western Regional Manager confirmed the commission had received Omtatah’s complaint and had initiated formal investigations into the matter. According to Omtatah, the land in question has now been irregularly subdivided into nine plots and title deeds issued to individuals suspected to be proxies of county officials.
“This is a classic case of abuse of office, theft of public resources, and betrayal of public trust. This is theft, not governance,” the Senator said, vowing to recover the land and hold those involved accountable.
Further complicating the matter, the administrators of the estate of the late Ogalo Joseph Ogallo and Elizabeth Omondi have denied the original sale and claimed that the County Government is trespassing. The duo successfully obtained eviction orders after the County Government failed to defend itself in court.
Senator Omtatah now intends to challenge the judgment, asserting he has gathered compelling evidence including original transaction records to prove that the land sale did occur. He has vowed to seek legal redress to nullify the questionable title deeds and recover the property for public use.
The Amoni Market land saga has sparked outrage and renewed scrutiny over land administration and governance in county governments, as EACC begins its probe into what could be a major case of corruption and misuse of public funds.
