Kenya: Political challenges for Busia Governor and Mike Sonko's court testimony

In Busia County, Governor Paul Otuoma faces significant political challenges ahead of the 2027 elections. Critics have accused his administration of corruption, nepotism, and mismanagement of the health sector. Recent surveys reportedly place his approval rating below 20 percent, and he faces internal rebellion from the Marachi Luhya sub-tribe led by MP Raphael Wanjala. To secure his position, Otuoma is reportedly attempting to designate Busia as an ODM zone to counter UDA aspirants such as Arthur Osiya.

Separately, former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko testified in a Ksh20 million corruption case regarding his impeachment. Sonko claimed that a dispute over the county budget, specifically the lack of a legal framework to fund functions transferred from the national government, caused a rift with the national government. He stated that withholding budget approval was a measure to avoid personal liability and argued that his impeachment was politically motivated and legally flawed.