Busia County is facing fresh political tensions as Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) prepare to table an impeachment motion against Deputy Governor Arthur Odera.
Reports indicate that Governor Paul Otuoma is behind the push to remove his deputy, citing allegations of tribal favoritism and financial mismanagement.
According to sources close to the governor, Odera has been accused of advancing tribal politics, allegedly advocating for a disproportionate allocation of county resources to benefit the Iteso community.
This has reportedly created rifts within the county administration, with leaders accusing him of neglecting the broader interests of Busia County.
Additionally, insiders claim that Odera has been involved in the misappropriation of funds meant for the health sector, leading to prolonged drug shortages in county hospitals.
Governor Otuoma, believed to be the architect of the impeachment plan, has allegedly been using his Cabinet, including Chief Executive Peter Odima, to launch political attacks against his deputy.
The growing tension has resulted in a strained relationship between Otuoma and Odera, with the two rarely appearing together in public functions over the past year.
An insider working in the governor’s office revealed that Otuoma is strategically fueling the attacks against Odera to gauge public reaction before giving MCAs the green light to proceed with impeachment.
“You see, every leader associated with the governor is trying to throw jibes at the Iteso community, particularly at the DG. Knowing Otuoma is behind it, he is just testing the waters before officially directing the MCAs to act,” the insider disclosed.
Meanwhile, concerns over financial mismanagement within the county government continue to mount.
Governor Otuoma himself has been accused of misusing Ksh 600 million disbursed by the National Government on December 23, 2024.
Critics argue that while county workers were forced to go on Christmas holiday without pay, Otuoma shifted blame to the National Government, claiming that funds had not been released.
Further allegations have emerged that Otuoma looted Ksh 200 million meant for the Busia Town Beautification Project, yet the town remains filthy with little to show for such a huge budget.
Residents have expressed frustration over the poor state of the town’s infrastructure, questioning how such an enormous amount of money was spent with minimal visible improvements.
