EACC places caveat on Busia's Amoni Market land in Ksh.200M graft probe

Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, who raised the issue, claimed that the County allegedly set aside Ksh.200 million to purchase a piece of land to construct Amoni Market, property whose value is Ksh.20 million.

The senator further alleged that the land was subdivided into nine plots with new title deeds issued to individuals, whom he suspects are proxies of county officials. 

In a letter addressed to the Busia Land Registrar, seen by Citizen Digital, the Commission wants all dealings on the land suspended until investigations are completed.

"Please note that the investigations are ongoing and the Commission will appreciate if you restrict any further dealings in the above-mentioned parcels of land to third parties until such a time that the investigations are completed or otherwise advised." 

In the disclosures made by Senator Omtatah, the land initially belonged to John Ouma Ogalo, who sold it to the defunct Busia County Council (now Busia County Government) on July 20, 1990, to construct a public market. 

However, Joseph Ogallo and Elizabeth Omondi, administrators of the estate of the deceased Ogalo denied the sale and alleged that the County government trespassed on the land. 

The administrators then pursued the matter in court, seeking eviction orders. According to Senator Omtatah, court records showed that the county government failed to prosecute its defence, prompting the courts to rule in favour of the administrators. 

The Senator expressed confidence that he had gathered enough evidence, including the transaction documents, to recover the piece of land.