Why Okiya Omtatah Has Sued Azimio Governor

Senator Okiya Omtatah has sued Busia Governor Paul Otuoma setting the stage for a legal battle.

In the petition filed at the Busia High Court, Omtatah accused the Azimio la Umoja Governor of ignoring 12 letters seeking answers on various county expenditures.

Omtatah argued that the county boss had deliberately sabotaged his oversight role by refusing to release relevant information as demanded through the letters.

"After being contemptuously snubbed by Hon. Paul Nyongesa Otuoma and his officers, I have sued the Governor in the High Court of Kenya at Busia," Omtatah wrote on his X account.

At the centre of the legal battle is also the procurement of the construction of Busia Trailer Park in the Mundika area. The vocal lawmaker indicated that the park procurement process was unprocedural.

Additionally, Omtatah accused Governor Otuoma of irregular and unlawful procurement and distribution of new kiosks in Busia Town.

“Hence, it concerns the obligation on the respondent to uphold the rule of law, including by being transparent and accountable for his actions, and to provide to the petitioner and the public timely, accurate information as required by the Constitution and various statutes,” read part of the petition.

"The dispute in this matter concerns, on the one hand, the petitioner's right under the law to access information held by the State, including under Article 35(1)(a) and (3) of the Constitution," the petition further read.

He argued that the courts would compel the governor to furnish his office with relevant required documents that would pave the way for further investigations over graft allegations.

In November 2023, the Senator had threatened to sue the Governor for failing to provide relevant procurement documents. He directed Otuoma to honour his request failure to which he would lodge a suit against him.

By the time of this publication, Governor Otuoma had not responded to Omtatah's accusation.