By Reuben Olita
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah on Tuesday issued a scathing attack on Deputy Speaker and Malaba Central Member of the County Assembly, Ronald Ochalu over allegations the Senator was allegedly blocking development of a modern market in Malaba.
Last Friday during the burial of Mzee Ayub Nyongesa Odikor, 96, at Kooli village in Malaba Central Ward, Ochalu claimed that Omtatah’s belated attempts to block the market from coming was a sign of poor politics and leadership.
” If you want a seat, look at the benefits of the residents, then yours takes a chance. Go and tell the Senator that Ksh450m that is supposed to come to Malaba Municipality, we can’t lose because of personal interest.
Ochalu added:” We can’t allow that. Let us save Ksh450m at the expense of Ksh20m or even Ksh30m. Now, if we block development at the expense of polics, will that aurgur well for the citizens? Ochalu wondered.
Responding to Ochalu’s attacks via his official Facebook page, Omtatah said there is nothing he would wish for more than a state-of-the-art Amoni Market that benefits traders and boosts our local economy.
” Principles matter. Before spending Ksh 200 million of your hard-earned money on land that the County Government of Busia already owns, and which is worth only Ksh 20 million, we must ensure due diligence is done,” he said.
Omtatah added:” Anything less would be a betrayal of the public trust. I will not stand by and watch public funds being siphoned through fraudulent land deals disguised as “development projects.”
” If we lose public resources today, there will be nothing left tomorrow to build the market or any other project.
To my colleagues in politics, take a chill pill. Let’s stop the incitement and focus on protecting the people’s money.
To the people of Busia, know that I act in your best interest so that when we build, we build with integrity and
without loss,” Omtatah concluded.
