The government has responded to a damning report by the Daily Nation published on Monday, April 14, which claimed that billions of shillings from foreign visitors were improperly deposited into Swiss bank accounts.
According to the exposé, a total of Ksh6.5 billion from the Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) project was channeled into a Swiss account in a manner that resembled the controversial 2014 Eurobond scandal. This revelation has sparked widespread concern and debate about transparency and accountability within President William Ruto’s administration.
In an official statement released the same day, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura dismissed the allegations of wrongdoing. He explained that the transactions were part of a pilot phase for the eTA programme, which was a collaboration between the Kenyan government and a Swiss company.
President William Ruto in Tokyo, Japan PHOTO: PSC
Mwaura said the government entered this partnership with the aim of strengthening ties with the Swiss firm and testing the new system before rolling it out fully.
He maintained that the pilot phase has since been completed and that the payment process is now under full government control through the eCitizen platform. All funds, he noted, are now directed to the Consolidated Fund as required by law.
The report had raised eyebrows over the decision to allow a foreign company to not only run the eTA system but also collect and keep public funds outside Kenya.
Between August 2024 and February 2025, the Swiss firm was in charge of the system and collected Ksh6.5 billion from visitors applying for travel authorisation.
Out of this amount, the company reportedly received Ksh1.5 billion as payment for its services, which accounts for about 23% of the total revenue.
Spokesperson Dr Isaac Mwaura. (Photo: Courtesy)
Many critics have questioned why such a significant amount of public money was handled by an external company and not stored within Kenya’s official financial systems.
Adding to the concerns, the report came shortly after former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi made fresh allegations against President Ruto.
Muturi claimed the president pressured him to approve a Ksh130 billion grant from foreign donors, which he said would have bypassed the legal frameworks outlined in the Public Finance Management Act. Muturi refused to give the go-ahead, citing the potential for abuse and illegality.
The Daily Nation also pointed out that keeping government funds outside the Consolidated Fund violates the Constitution. Article 206(1) clearly states that all money raised or received by or on behalf of the national government must be paid into the Consolidated Fund unless there are special exemptions.
The ongoing revelations have only added to the growing concerns over the government’s financial practices and its dealings with foreign entities. As investigations and debates continue, the public is left demanding answers and accountability.
