NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Chief Justice David Maraga has delivered a scathing criticism of the Kenyan government over allegations that billions of shillings collected through the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) program were deposited in Swiss bank accounts.
Maraga’s condemnation comes after Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura confirmed that a Swiss company involved in the early stages of the eTA rollout received these funds.
Mwaura defended the decision, stating that channeling the money into Swiss accounts was part of the system’s pilot phase, which was carried out in collaboration with the foreign firm.
The government spokesperson also assured the public that moving forward, all collections from the eTA system would be deposited directly into Kenya’s Consolidated Fund.
However, Maraga, in a statement posted on his official X account, raised serious questions about the legality and transparency of the arrangement.
He accused the government of violating the Constitution, which mandates that all public funds be deposited in the Consolidated Fund, and demanded answers from the authorities regarding the approval of the pilot project and the use of offshore accounts.
“In a line of many scandals in our history, most of which have never been subjected to the wheels of justice, this is yet another flagrant violation of the Constitution, which requires that all monies collected be deposited in the Consolidated Fund,” Maraga wrote.
It is truly appalling to read yesterday’s statement from the Government Spokesperson that billions of shillings from the ETA program were deposited in Swiss accounts as a “pilot.”In a line of many scandals in our history, most of which have never been subjected to the wheels
Maraga further questioned when Parliament had approved the pilot project and why offshore Swiss accounts were chosen for the transaction, given the country’s historical issues with opacity in financial matters.
He demanded to know who the signatories of the accounts were, and raised concerns over the possibility of this being another offshore account scam for personal gain.
He also sought clarity on whether the funds had been transferred to the Consolidated Fund as promised.
“This raises serious questions about accountability in public resource management,” Maraga continued, emphasizing that it is ordinary Kenyans who ultimately suffer the consequences of such decisions.
The former Chief Justice, known for his outspoken views on corruption and the rule of law, called on citizens to take a stand against what he termed as political leadership that undermines the Constitution.
He urged voters to elect leaders who are committed to upholding the Constitution and ensuring transparency in government dealings.
