Court petition targets Uhuru, Ruto over Sh6.8 trillion national debt
The petition, filed in the High Court by Omtatah and eight others, claims that Eurobond loans were secured without Parliament’s consent and deposited in offshore accounts.
A fresh legal battle has emerged over Kenya’s growing public debt, with Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah taking former President Uhuru Kenyatta and key officials to court.
He claims they are liable for loans totalling Sh4.6 trillion taken during the Kenyatta administration, and challenges the Sh2.2 trillion acquired under President William Ruto’s leadership.
Omtatah has named former Treasury CS Njuguna Ndung’u, Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu, and Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o in the suit.
He wants them held liable for what he describes as unlawful borrowing that breached the Constitution and ignored public interest.
The petition, filed in the High Court by Omtatah and eight others, claims that Eurobond loans were secured without Parliament’s consent and deposited in offshore accounts.
"By illegally placing the Eurobond funds into an offshore account instead of the Consolidated Fund, the government exposed the money to misuse. The petitioners believe this was done with improper or corrupt motives, without consideration for the public interest," they said.
They accuse the past administration of mismanaging public funds, saying money was withdrawn and spent without the necessary legal backing.
Omtatah argues that the funds were accessed without approval from the Appropriation Act and against provisions of Articles 222, 223, and 228 of the Constitution.
The petition states that between June 2014 and June 2022, public debt ballooned from Sh2.37 trillion to Sh8.57 trillion.
The petitioners now want the courts to apply Article 226(5) to surcharge those involved.
They say it is time for leaders to be held answerable for poor decisions that have left taxpayers with a growing financial burden.