The government has issued a clarification following a report by Daily Nation on Monday, April 14, alleging that billions of shillings in revenue collected from foreigners travelling to the country were unscrupulously diverted into Swiss accounts.
In Daily Nation’s exposé, the publication claimed that Ksh6.5 billion in revenue from the Electronic Travel Authorisation programme had been questionably diverted to a Swiss account.
Responding to the claims on April 14, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura clarified that the Swiss transactions were part of a piloting phase of the ETA programme.
Govt clarifies diverting Ksh6.5 billion of public money from eTA to a Swiss account. Photo: Courtesy.
According to Mwaura, thi is part of the government’s plans to improve strategic partnerships with the Swiss firm.
“There was a piloting phase for the ETA programme, which was a collaboration between the Kenyan government and a Swiss company,” the government spokesperson said.
The report indicated that the Swiss firm was contracted by the government to manage the eTA system for six months and collected Ksh6.5 billion between August 2024 and February 2025.
The firm, according to the report, was reportedly paid Ksh1.5 billion for their services, which was roughly 23 per cent of their total revenues.
The report further raised concerns about the decision by the government to allow a foreign firm to collect and hold public revenue, particularly outside Kenya’s Consolidated Fund.
However, according to the government spokesperson, this was merely a pilot programme, which has since been completed.
Mwaura’s statement added that the piloting has been completed, and all payments are now made through eCitizen and remitted to the Consolidated Fund.
The clarification came amid rising suspicions over the Kenyan government’s deal with Switzerland, particularly after explosive allegations by former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi, who alleged that President Ruto had pressured him to approve a Ksh 130 billion grant from foreign donors.
