The noose is tightening around the leadership of Busia County. In a high-stakes interrogation that lasted hours, Governor Paul Otuoma has been grilled by anti-graft detectives over the alleged theft of Ksh 1.4 billion, plunging his administration into a crisis of credibility.

Governor Otuoma arrived at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission headquarters at Integrity Centre early Tuesday morning, but he did not leave with his reputation intact. Detectives are probing a "massive and entrenched" scheme of pilferage where public funds meant for development were allegedly siphoned off through ghost projects and procurement fraud. The sheer scale of the graft—Ksh 1.4 billion—represents a significant chunk of the county’s annual budget.

The Anatomy of the Heist

Sources close to the investigation reveal a well-orchestrated syndicate operating within the county executive. The EACC is looking into how funds were moved from county accounts into the pockets of well-connected individuals. The inquiry focuses on:

• Procurement Irregularities: Contracts awarded to proxy companies for work that was never done or was grossly inflated in cost.
• Theft of Public Funds: Direct withdrawals and suspicious transfers that lack proper documentation or assembly approval.

A County in Limbo

For the residents of Busia, this investigation confirms their worst fears about the stewardship of their resources. As the governor fights for his political life in Nairobi, services back home risk grinding to a halt under the weight of frozen accounts and demoralized staff. "We want the truth, and we want our money back," said one activist outside the commission offices. The EACC has vowed to leave no stone unturned, signaling that this is just the beginning of a long legal battle for Otuoma.