Former Chief Justice David Maraga has strongly condemned the government following revelations that billions of shillings collected through the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) program were funneled into Swiss bank accounts.
His criticism follows a press statement by Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, who acknowledged that a Swiss company involved in the initial implementation of the eTA system had received the funds. According to Mwaura, this arrangement was part of a pilot phase conducted in partnership with the foreign firm.
Mwaura further assured the public that, moving forward, all revenue generated through the eTA system would be deposited directly into Kenya’s Consolidated Fund.
In a statement posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Maraga questioned both the legality and transparency of the process, accusing the government of breaching constitutional requirements.
He demanded clarification on several key issues, including whether Parliament had approved the pilot project, the rationale behind using offshore accounts, and the identities of those authorized to access the funds.
“This is yet another blatant violation of the Constitution,” Maraga stated. “All monies collected by or on behalf of the government must be deposited into the Consolidated Fund. Why were Swiss accounts—known for their secrecy—used? Who are the signatories? Is there evidence this isn’t another scheme for personal enrichment? Have the funds now been moved into the Consolidated Fund?”
Maraga linked the mismanagement of public resources to the country’s ongoing economic challenges, arguing that ordinary citizens ultimately suffer the consequences of such decisions.
He concluded by calling on Kenyans to hold their leaders accountable and to elect individuals committed to upholding the Constitution and the rule of law.
