Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has filed a legal petition seeking to hold former President Uhuru Kenyatta and key figures from his administration accountable for the heavy debt burden accumulated during his leadership.
The petition also questions the legitimacy of loans worth Sh2.2 trillion borrowed under President William Ruto’s administration. Omtatah is targeting former National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u, Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o, and Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu as among those who should be held responsible for the controversial borrowing.
Omtatah, alongside eight other petitioners, argues that loans amounting to Sh4.6 trillion — including Eurobond proceeds — were secured during Kenyatta’s tenure without due oversight, branding them as “odious” debts. They accuse the previous administration of circumventing constitutional processes, including mismanaging Eurobond funds by channeling them into offshore accounts instead of depositing them into Kenya’s Consolidated Fund.
“This move exposed public money to potential misuse and appears to have been motivated by corrupt or improper intentions, disregarding the interests of Kenyans,” the petition states.
The affidavit further claims that both local and international loans were obtained without necessary parliamentary approvals, contravening the Constitution and the Public Finance Management Act. According to Omtatah, Eurobond funds were spent without authorization through the Appropriation Act, violating Articles 222, 223, and 228 of the Constitution.
The petition highlights that Kenya’s public debt rose dramatically from Sh2.37 trillion in 2014 to Sh8.57 trillion by the end of Kenyatta’s term. Citing Article 226(5) of the Constitution, Omtatah and his fellow petitioners are urging the court to hold those responsible to account for burdening Kenyans with unsustainable debt.
