Principal Administrative Secretary in the Executive Office of the President, Arthur Amug Osiya, has firmly dismissed calls for his resignation, stating he remains a central figure in the current government and will only step aside to focus on his 2027 gubernatorial bid.
Speaking during the burial of the late Mzee Stephen Etiang Charles Emacar, 90, at Kaeset Primary School, Osiya emphasized that his role in government is too vital to warrant resignation.
“I am the engine of this government. I will only step aside when the 2027 gubernatorial contest nears. Nothing will stop me from seeking the people’s mandate to serve as the governor of Busia County,” he said.
Osiya also rejected overtures from his gubernatorial opponent, Eng. Vincent Sidai, to agree on a compromise candidate to face incumbent Governor Paul Otuoma. He revealed that he had visited 31 out of the county’s 35 wards and met with professionals who had endorsed his candidacy.
He criticized the county’s health facilities, describing them as “pathetic,” and lamented the state of Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) infrastructure. Osiya further accused the county leadership of neglecting County Assembly Members, who he said had gone unpaid for months.
“In Busia, it seems devolution was postponed. Indiscipline in the county is too much, and the situation in our health sector is alarming,” he said. He decried the non-remittance of statutory deductions for hospital workers and emphasized the need to focus on service delivery rather than tribal divisions, stating, “There is no county called Teso.”
Sidai, meanwhile, expressed confidence in his gubernatorial ambitions, revealing he had sought blessings from the late Emacar before his passing. He dismissed claims from CECM for Culture and Sports, Olunga Ekwenye, who has been championing a second term for Governor Otuoma.
Former Governor Sospeter Ojaamong paid tribute to Mzee Emacar for his significant role in the creation of Teso North and Teso South constituencies, and for constructing the Town Hall during his time as councillor. Emacar also served as chairman of the Teso County Council and as head of the Teso County Elders.
Former Busia Woman Representative Florence Mutua used the occasion to call out the continued marginalization of widows, urging the community to embrace and support them. She also criticized CEC Olunga Ekwenye, telling him to stop campaigning for Otuoma and “wait for a better position.”
Mzee Emacar, father to notable public figures including Bungoma CEC for Gender and Sports Ben Emacar and national referee Donald Emacar, succumbed to health complications linked to umbilical hernia and prostate enlargement. He is survived by 19 children and 60 grandchildren.
The high-profile funeral, attended by five Catholic priests and marked by heavy rains, featured a poignant message from Fr. Francis Kamau, who encouraged men suffering in silence to speak up, particularly against domestic abuse, ahead of World Women’s Day in May.
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya sent his condolences through MCA Eric Wafula, while Fr. Benard Fwamba of Chelelemuk Parish hosted the service.
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