I have heard Busia County leadership repeatedly claim that I have stopped development projects through court action. Today, I challenge them: produce the evidence.
If indeed there are projects that were ready for implementation and were stopped solely because of my actions, then the funds allocated for those projects must still be available. Public money does not disappear simply because a project has been delayed.
Let the County Government produce the bank statements, project accounts, and financial records. Let them show the people of Busia: "This was the project. This was the budget. Senator Omtatah stopped it. Here is the money that remains untouched."
But if the money is no longer there, then the question is not what I stopped. The question is where the money went.
I do not go to court to stop genuine development. I go to court to stop corruption, illegal procurement, abuse of public resources, and the grabbing of public land. Development and accountability are not enemies. In fact, accountability is what guarantees that development benefits the people.
When we questioned the proposed use of ATC land, or the unprocedural relocation of Busia Polytechnic, we were defending public institutions. When we questioned procurement processes and double payments on IFMiS, we were demanding transparency. When we sought documents, Bills of Quantities, contracts, and approvals, we were carrying out constitutional oversight.
The propaganda will not sell this time round to the people of Busia.
Therefore, I challenge those making these allegations to publish the financial records of every project they claim was stopped. Let them show the project accounts. Let them show the balances. Let them show the procurement documents. Let them show the people where every shilling is.
If they cannot do so, then they must stop using my name as an excuse for failures that belong to them. I haven't stopped the provision of medical supplies to hospitals, or bursaries and capitation. As they say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
Accountability is not sabotage. Transparency is not hostility. Oversight is not opposition to development.
The people of Busia deserve both development and accountability, and they should never be forced to choose between the two.