The Directorate of Immigration Services, a department under the Ministry of Interior, has doubled down on its support for the country’s Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) system amid a growing national controversy over revelations that revenue from the program was, until recently, being deposited in foreign -specifically Swiss – bank accounts.
In a press release issued on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, Immigration defended the eTA initiative as a critical innovation in border management, touting it as a solution to congestion and delays at ports of entry and a leap forward in national security.
The Immigration Department issued a robust defence of the eTA system, emphasising its role in modernising border management and streamlining travel.
The statement highlighted the eTA’s success since its launch on January 4, 2024, noting that it has processed 1,921,929 travellers through the online platform (https://www.etakenya.go.ke).
Immigration defended eTA’s effectiveness in alleviating congestion at ports of entry and significantly reducing processing times for travellers.
“The Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is a modern border management tool accessible through https://www.etakenya.go.ke. Deployment of eTA system successfully addressed congestion that was previously experienced along the ports of entry. It significantly reduced the turnaround time for travellers at the borders,” Immigration stated.
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The agency also assured foreign visitors to Kenya that ongoing improvements are being made to enhance the user experience and that all concerns raised by applicants and stakeholders are being addressed.
This reaffirmation of support for the eTA system follows closely on the heels of a government admission that funds collected through the program were initially deposited in Swiss bank accounts.
Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, in a statement on Monday, April 14, 2025, confirmed that the eTA system’s implementation involved a Swiss company and that the offshore banking was part of a pilot phase.
Mwaura clarified that this practice has since ceased with the completion of the pilot program, and all eTA collections are now being directly deposited into Kenya’s Consolidated Fund.
“There was a piloting phase for the eTA program, which was a collaboration between the Kenyan Government and a Swiss company. The piloting has been completed, and all payments are now made through eCitizen and remitted to the Consolidated Fund,” Mwaura said.
The initial revelation of funds being held abroad sparked considerable public concern, particularly regarding accountability and transparency in the management of revenue generated from the visa-free program, which was introduced following an decree by President William Ruto.
Media reports had also highlighted the substantial payments made to the Swiss company involved in the eTA’s implementation, further fueling the controversy.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen had previously informed Parliament that as of February 25, 2025, the eTA system had generated $50,568,810 (approximately Ksh6.5 billion), with the service provider entitled to $12,255,013.50 (approximately Ksh1.5 billion).
Despite the government’s attempts to clarify the situation by explaining the pilot phase and the subsequent shift to domestic banking, the Directorate of Immigration’s latest statement underscores the government’s continued faith in the eTA system as a vital tool for border management.
The challenge now for the government will be to fully address the lingering public concerns surrounding the initial handling of the funds and to ensure complete transparency in the ongoing operation of the program.
Martin Oduor
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