President William Ruto’s government is facing fresh scrutiny after a fraud examiner alleged that the administration has accumulated more than Sh3.3 trillion in illegal debt since coming into office.
Bernard Muchere, a certified fraud examiner who previously served as an auditor at the National Treasury for four decades, claims that the borrowing under Kenya Kwanza does not reflect on the ground in terms of development projects.
According to him, the mismatch between the loans taken and the visible output points to serious irregularities.
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Muchere described the debt as “illegal,” suggesting that some of the loans were secured outside the legal and constitutional framework that guides public borrowing.
He further noted that a significant portion of the funds may have been misapplied or diverted, while debt repayments are swallowing up resources that should have been directed to development.
The allegations, if proven, could have far-reaching implications on transparency and accountability in government spending.
Already, questions are emerging over whether the government has fully disclosed its borrowing practices to Parliament and whether Kenyans are getting value for money from the trillions borrowed.
While the State has not publicly addressed the specific figure cited by Muchere, the claims are expected to fuel political debate and public concern over the country’s growing debt burden.
Civil society groups and opposition leaders are likely to demand an independent audit of the loans to establish their legality and to trace how the money was used.
Muchere’s remarks have put renewed pressure on institutions such as the Auditor-General and Parliament’s oversight committees to intervene.
For now, Kenyans will be waiting keenly to see whether the government will issue a detailed response or remain silent on a matter that could define its legacy on financial management.