Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah confers with Principal Administrative Secretary in the Executive Office of the President Arthur Osiya during the burial service for Alfred Etyang, 73, at Kokare Comprehensive School grounds, in Malaba South Ward, Busia on Saturday /IMAGE /HILTON OTENYO
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has dismissed claims his court battles have slowed development projects in the county, challenging critics to provide evidence.
He defended his oversight role and said he had not blocked any genuine development initiative.
Omtatah spoke during the burial of Alfred Peter Etyang, 73, at the Kokare Comprehensive School grounds in Malaba South ward.
“If I have blocked any development project, I challenge them to name it,” he said.
The senator argued that if funds had been allocated to projects allegedly stalled by his actions, the money should still be available in county accounts.
“They say money was meant for certain projects, yet there is no money in the county accounts and no projects have been completed. Where has the money gone?” he posed.
Omtatah said his legal actions were aimed at promoting accountability and transparency in the management of public resources.
He moved to court after allegedly being denied access to county government documents he had requested as part of his oversight mandate.
“When I demanded documents from the county government, I was stoned. I took the matter to court and an advance ruling ordered the county government to release the documents to me,” he said.
“The full ruling will be delivered in September. The evidence I have could send people to jail. This is not a laughing matter.”
The senator maintained that access to public records was essential to ensuring public funds were used as intended and that leaders remained accountable to residents.
Turning to national politics, Omtatah said calls for change should go beyond individual leaders and focus on reforming governance systems.
“People are saying ‘Ruto must go’, but we are saying both Ruto and the system must go—a system where rubbish rises to the top instead of cream,” he said.
He also disclosed that documents he was allegedly prevented from tabling in Parliament would instead be made public online to allow Kenyans to scrutinise them.
Omtatah urged residents to make informed choices during the next election and criticised what he described as political alliances formed for convenience rather than service to the people.
His remarks came amid growing political debate in Busia over development, accountability and the use of public resources, with leaders increasingly trading accusations as the next election cycle approaches.
