Editor's Review

The Busia County government is on the spot over salary delays affecting more than 3,000 workers. 

Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has called out the Busia county government leadership over salary delays affecting more than 3,000 workers.

In a statement on Monday, August 18, Omtatah noted that Busia County workers were yet to receive their July salaries.

Senator Omtatah described the salary delays as a clear sign of poor management by the Busia county government.

“Today, 18th August 2025, 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 stated.

Omtatah pointed out that the Busia County staff in health, education, administration, and other critical sectors cannot serve the people of Busia effectively when their welfare is neglected.

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File image of Okiya Omtatah. 

“Timely salary payment is not a privilege; it is a basic right and obligation,” the Busia senator stated.

Further, Omtatah asked the Busia county leadership to act swiftly and settle the salaries of the 3000 workers.

“The Busia County leadership must urgently address this failure, restore dignity to our workers, and safeguard the delivery of essential services to the people of Busia,” he added.

This comes weeks after Omtatah clashed with Busia Governor Paul Otuoma’s administration over failing to account for Ksh5.2 billion in the 2022/2023 financial year.

Senator Omtatah claimed that an audit report he commissioned uncovered massive fraud and financial mismanagement within the County Government of Busia.

He dismissed attempts by the county to discredit the findings and challenged officials to respond with facts.

“The County Government of Busia should not attack me, the messenger; let them confront the message with a detailed and coherent response," Omtatah said.

In a response, the Busia County government accused Omtatah of peddling misinformation driven by political motives and personal interest.

“Let it be made abundantly clear: A Senator cannot, and does not, have the mandate to singly audit County accounts,” the statement read.

“Senator Omtatah’s purported audit of Busia County Government accounts lacks both legal grounding and institutional legitimacy.”