Former Chief Justice David Maraga
has sharply criticized the government over allegations that billions of
shillings collected through the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) program
were deposited in Swiss bank accounts.
The condemnation came after
Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, in a press statement, confirmed that a
Swiss company involved in the early rollout of the eTA system received the
funds.
Mwaura explained that the decision
to channel the money into Swiss accounts was part of the system’s pilot phase,
implemented in partnership with the foreign firm.
Mwaura assured the public that, going
forward, all collections from the eTA system would be deposited directly into
Kenya’s Consolidated Fund.
However, in a statement posted on
his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Maraga questioned the legality and
transparency of the arrangement, accusing the government of violating the
Constitution.
He demanded answers regarding Parliament’s
approval of the pilot project, the choice of offshore accounts, and the
identities of the signatories involved.
“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,” said Maraga.
“When did Parliament approve this pilot? Why
offshore Swiss accounts with their record of obscurity? Who are the
signatories? What evidence do we have that this is not yet another offshore
account scam for personal gain? Have those funds now been transferred to the
Consolidated Fund?”
Maraga linked the lack of
accountability in public resource management to the economic hardships facing
the country, saying it was the ordinary Kenyans who bore the brunt of such
decisions.
He urged citizens to take a stand
against what he termed as political leadership and elect leaders who uphold the
Constitution and the rule of law.