The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has launched investigations into a saga involving the Busia County Government that allegedly set aside Ksh.200 million to purchase a piece of land, which Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah claims already belongs to the County. 

Senator Omtatah raised the land issue in a letter addressed to the county government, with copies sent to the EACC, demanding an immediate halt to the land purchase.

In a letter signed on behalf of CEO Abdi Mohamud by EACC Western Regional Manager, the agency acknowledged receipt of the document and initiated investigations into the findings. 

According to Omtatah, the County Government sought to purchase the land to construct Amoni Market in Malaba Town, whose value is worth Ksh.20 million. 

He revealed that the land has since 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 said.

"I have formally notified EACC and will move to court to recover the land and protect public interest, asking the court to scrutinise and quash the fraudulent title deeds."

The senator disclosed 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 unveiled plans in the County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs) to construct a public market on the piece of land. 

In a surprising twist, Joseph Ogallo and Elizabeth Omondi, administrators of the estate of the deceased Ogalu Ogalo denied the sale and alleged that the County government trespassed on the land. 

The administrators then pursued the matter in court, seeking eviction orders. According to Senator Omtatah, court records showed that the county government failed to prosecute its defence, prompting the courts to rule in favour of the administrators. 

In the letter, Senator Omtatah expressed confidence that he had gathered enough evidence, including the transaction documents, to recover the piece of land. 

He vowed to pursue the matter to quash the initial judgment.