Government Clarifies Allegations of Ksh6.5 billion Revenue Diversion to Swiss Accounts
The government has issued an official clarification following a report published by Daily Nation on Monday, April 14, which alleged that billions of shillings in revenue collected from foreign travellers were unlawfully diverted into Swiss bank accounts.
In its exposé, Daily Nation claimed that Ksh6.5 billion, collected through the Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) programme, was suspiciously redirected to a Swiss account. The publication compared the alleged financial dealings to the controversial Eurobond saga of 2014.
In response, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura stated that the transactions involving the Swiss firm were part of a pilot phase for the eTA programme. He explained that the initiative was implemented as a collaborative effort between the Kenyan government and a Swiss company to enhance strategic international partnerships.
“There was a piloting phase for the ETA programme, which was a collaboration between the Kenyan government and a Swiss company,” Mwaura noted. He further clarified that the pilot has since been concluded.
According to the report, the Swiss firm was contracted to manage the eTA system for six months and collected Ksh6.5 billion between August 2024 and February 2025. Of this amount, the firm reportedly received Ksh1.5 billion in service fees—approximately 23 per cent of the total revenue collected.
The report also raised constitutional concerns about a foreign firm collecting and temporarily holding public funds outside the country’s Consolidated Fund.
Addressing these concerns, Mwaura emphasized that the pilot phase is no longer active and that all transactions are now conducted through the government’s eCitizen platform, with revenue remitted directly to the Consolidated Fund.
“The piloting has been completed, and all payments are now made through eCitizen and remitted to the Consolidated Fund,” he stated.
This clarification comes amid growing public scrutiny over the government’s engagement with the Swiss entity. It also follows claims by former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi, who alleged that President William Ruto pressured him to approve a Ksh130 billion grant from foreign donors—an action he deemed inconsistent with the Public Finance Management Act.
Muturi asserted that the proposed grant would have bypassed legal financial frameworks, prompting his refusal to authorize the transaction.
Daily Nation’s report further highlighted broader issues surrounding the management of public funds, including alleged violations of constitutional requirements. Article 206(1) of the Constitution mandates that all funds raised or received by the national government must be deposited into the Consolidated Fund, except under legally defined circumstances.
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Government Clarifies Allegations of Ksh6.5 billion Revenue Diversion to Swiss Accounts
