Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah Okoiti has strongly criticized the county government over delayed July salaries for more than 3,000 workers, warning that the failure is crippling essential services.

In a statement shared on X on Monday, August 18, 2025, Omtatah said it was unacceptable that thousands of staff, including health workers, teachers, and administrators, were still waiting to be paid weeks into the new month.

“Today, over 3,000 Busia County workers are yet to receive their July salaries. This is unacceptable and a clear sign of poor management of the county’s most vital resource its workforce,” he wrote.

The Senator stressed that the situation was undermining service delivery in key departments. “Our staff in health, education, administration, and other critical sectors cannot serve the people of Busia effectively when their own welfare is neglected. Timely salary payment is not a privilege, it is a basic right and obligation,” he added.

Omtatah urged county leaders to act with urgency to end the crisis, restore dignity to the workers, and protect the delivery of crucial public services.

The delay has left many workers struggling to meet family and personal needs, with some unable to pay school fees, rent, or other basic expenses. Health services, education, and county administration are among the most affected as employees work under growing frustration.

This is not the first time Busia County has faced salary disputes. In August 2020, nurses staged a go-slow after going without their July pay, with union officials warning that delays were hurting staff morale and worsening service delivery. The county also faced protests in earlier years over unpaid promotions and Covid-19 allowances.

Busia, which has a population of about one million, relies heavily on national government transfers alongside local revenue to fund salaries and development projects. Salary delays not only disrupt county operations but also dent public confidence in local leadership.

Senator Omtatah now wants the county government to prioritize staff welfare and put in place sustainable systems to avoid repeating the crisis. He said failure to address the matter would only deepen frustration among workers and weaken service delivery for the people of Busia.