The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has launched investigations into allegations that the Busia County Government earmarked Ksh.200 million to purchase land that Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah claims already belongs to the County. Senator Omtatah brought the issue to light in a letter to the county government, also sending copies to the EACC, demanding an immediate halt to the land purchase.

The EACC acknowledged receipt of the document and initiated investigations. According to Omtatah, the County Government intended to purchase the land, valued at Ksh.20 million, to construct Amoni Market in Malaba Town. He stated that the land has been subdivided into 9 plots with new title deeds issued to individuals, whom he suspects are 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," Omtatah asserted.

Omtatah has formally notified the EACC and intends to move to court to recover the land and protect public interest, requesting the court to scrutinize and quash the fraudulent title deeds. He stated that the land initially belonged to John Ouma Ogalo, who sold it to the defunct Busia County Council (now Busia County Government) on July 20, 1990. The Council had plans in the County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs) to construct a public market on the land.

In a contradictory turn, Joseph Ogallo and Elizabeth Omondi, administrators of the estate of the deceased Ogalu Ogalo, denied the sale and claimed that the County government trespassed on the land. The administrators pursued the matter in court, seeking eviction orders. Senator Omtatah indicated that court records showed that the county government failed to prosecute its defence, leading the courts to rule in favor of the administrators.

Senator Omtatah expressed confidence that he has gathered sufficient evidence, including transaction documents, to recover the land. He vowed to pursue the matter to quash the initial judgment.