Busia County leaders have intensified calls for a united opposition to unseat Governor Paul Otuoma in the 2027 general elections, urging two key gubernatorial aspirants to strike a deal and present a single candidate.
Speaking during the burial of Mzee Ayub Nyongesa Odikor in Kooli village, Amagoro, the leaders appealed to Presidential Principal Administrative Secretary Arthur Osiya and former County Executive Engineer Vincent Sidai to agree on a joint ticket.
They argued that the current county administration had failed in governance, citing last month’s Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) raid that led to the arrest of six senior officials over the alleged embezzlement of Ksh1.4 billion meant for development projects.
Angurai North MCA Isaac Wamalwa further alleged that the Auditor-General’s report showed Ksh5 billion in county funds was unaccounted for, urging EACC to probe the whereabouts of the remaining Ksh3.6 billion.
Former Governor Sospeter Ojaamong hinted at convening talks between Osiya and Sidai to produce a single community-backed challenger.
Those backing the unity push include Busia Deputy Speaker Ronald Ochalu, MCAs Dalmas Ekilejo (Chakol North), Bonface Mamai (Malaba South), Patrick Omanyala (Malaba North), and Wamalwa (Angurai North), alongside former Woman Representative Florence Mutua, former Deputy Speakers Moses Ote and Lawrence Okaale, and several former MCAs.
The leaders urged residents to elect leaders based on competence rather than party loyalty, stressing the need for a governor who can unite the county.
However, both Osiya and Sidai dismissed calls to drop their bids. Osiya accused Otuoma’s administration of corruption, poor service delivery, delayed salaries, lack of farm inputs, and non-remittance of statutory deductions, vowing to form a new team to “salvage Busia from maladministration.”
Sidai maintained that the county needs a leader with proven credentials to restore integrity, stating the governorship should not be dictated by ethnicity but by merit.
Written By Rodney Mbua
