Busia Governor Paul Otuoma has come under sharp criticism from a Senate oversight committee for failing to act on audit findings related to the county’s 2022/23 financial operations, with the panel accusing him of ignoring key resolutions on accountability.
At a meeting convened at the Agricultural Training Centre in Busia town on Wednesday, the County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) voiced dissatisfaction over the Governor’s apparent inaction against county officers who did not provide required documentation to the Auditor General, contrary to the requirements of the Public Audit Act.
The committee, whose recommendations were approved by the Senate in March 2025, had instructed Governor Otuoma to take administrative action against non-compliant officers and submit a report to the Auditor General within 60 days.
However, when he appeared before the panel on October 6, 2025, he failed to show proof that these instructions had been implemented.
“In the absence of any evidence that you complied with the recommendations of the Senate, this Committee has no choice but ask the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to intervene and investigate these matters,” declared Senator Moses Kajwang’, who chairs the committee.
Otuoma defended his position, stating that he had disciplined some officers and would continue to take action where failures are identified.
The audit identified unsupported spending of Sh176 million. Of this, Sh16.5 million was spent on domestic travel and subsistence, Sh38 million on foreign travel, with no documents such as attendance registers or meeting invitations provided to justify the payments. The Auditor also noted that late imprest returns were not subjected to interest as required by financial rules.
The Senate had previously directed the County Executive to recover these funds within 60 days, warning that failure to do so would prompt EACC investigations and recovery actions.
Further scrutiny revealed Sh18.5 million paid to a local travel company, with Sh14.2 million, over 80 percent of total air travel contracts—going to the same firm. The Auditor General noted the county had not provided records explaining why the company consistently won the contracts.
In the hospitality supplies and services accounts, auditors found Sh146 million in expenditure, including Sh8.3 million with attendance lists that did not match local service orders.
Key documents such as tender opening and evaluation minutes, work plans, and activity budgets were also missing, leading the committee to refer the matter to the EACC for further investigation.
The audit also highlighted salary payments totaling Sh119 million processed manually for 47 employees over 60 years old, none of whom were listed in the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Database (IPPD).
Governor Otuoma explained that some of these employees had transferred from other institutions, and the group included two County Executive Committee members, a senior economic advisor, the County Public Service Board chair, and several persons with disabilities.
The Auditor General questioned the practice of paying these officers outside the IPPD system and the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the same category as retirees.
The committee also revisited an unresolved audit query concerning the construction of the Governor’s Lounge, with a contract value of Sh29 million.
The EACC had already seized documents related to the project, but Senator Kajwang expressed concern that the issue was again flagged in the 2024 audit report. He instructed the Auditor General to keep the matter active until the EACC completes its investigation.