Lawyer Moses Obenzo has declared his interest in vying for the Busia senatorial seat in 2027, stating that the county needs strong leadership and accountability.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with BBN TV, Obenzo highlighted major concerns over governance and oversight issues in the county, vowing to address them if elected.
He criticized the current system where the Auditor General’s reports are tabled in Parliament but are often disregarded, allowing corruption and mismanagement to thrive.
“In terms of oversight, there is a big problem. The Auditor General’s report is presented in Parliament, but MPs just play around with it, and eventually, it is dismissed and forgotten. That must change,” Obenzo asserted.
He emphasized that under the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), counties are required to allocate no more than 35% of their annual disbursement to recurrent expenditures such as salaries and wages.
However, Busia County, like many others, has been allocating over 70% to recurrent costs, leaving little for development.
“If elected, my first priority will be to ensure the proper implementation of the PFMA by significantly reducing the wage bill and directing more funds towards development projects,” he promised.
Ibenzo did not hold back in exposing what he termed as blatant misuse of public funds.
“You’ll find a county constructing a toilet for KSh 2 million, but when a magazine comes to launch it, the cost balloons to KSh 50 million. Are we really doing justice to ourselves?” he questioned.
He also condemned the issue of pending bills, where previous contractors are sidelined while new administrations prioritize their associates.
“There’s a case where a contractor took a loan of KSh 50 million to build a road, expecting payment. But when a new governor comes in, he ignores those who worked before and instead pays his cronies for projects completed in just two months,” Obenzo lamented.
Obenzo’s announcement comes as current senator Okiyah Omtatah sets his sights on a presidential bid, leaving the seat open for what is expected to be a fierce contest.
