Nairobi – October 7, 2025

Former Chief Justice David Maraga has launched a scathing attack on President William Ruto’s proposed Ksh1.5 trillion Infrastructure Fund, calling it “a grand plan to loot public resources.”

In a strongly worded statement released on Tuesday, Maraga said the project—intended to finance roads and major infrastructure—was nothing more than “another avenue for corruption dressed up as development.”

“This is not about infrastructure,” Maraga said. “It is about enriching a few politically connected individuals while plunging Kenya deeper into debt.”

The former Chief Justice, now a 2027 presidential hopeful, accused the Ruto administration of repeatedly introducing large-scale programmes that end up riddled with corruption and poor accountability.

‘Pattern of Deceit and Impunity’

Maraga said Kenyans should reject the Infrastructure Fund, claiming the government’s fiscal credibility had already been eroded by “multiple unresolved scandals.”

He likened the proposal to what he described as a pattern of deceit and impunity, referencing alleged mismanagement in key public projects.

Among the scandals he cited was the Ksh111 billion Healthcare Digitisation Programme under the Social Health Authority (SHA), which he claimed was “irregularly awarded without a competitive process.”

“The Auditor General has confirmed that the contract was neither budgeted for nor planned,” Maraga said. “Even worse, it locked Kenya into a private vendor monopoly—robbing us of flexibility to adopt better technologies in the future.”

He also claimed that an additional Ksh7 billion was attached to the project for “training and support,” with no clear explanation of who would be trained or how.

Fertiliser and Hustler Fund Under Scrutiny

Maraga further accused the government of mishandling the fertiliser subsidy programme, alleging that fake fertiliser worth Ksh12 billion had been distributed to farmers through state agencies.

He also took aim at the Hustler Fund, President Ruto’s flagship initiative for small businesses, saying it had failed to meet its promise and lacked transparency.

“No credible audit has been presented to show how the money was used or recovered,” Maraga said. “Most borrowers have defaulted, yet the government continues to use the fund as a political campaign tool.”

State House Yet to Respond

As of Tuesday evening, State House had not responded to Maraga’s remarks. Government officials have previously defended the proposed Infrastructure Fund, arguing it will spur development and create jobs.

The National Treasury has also maintained that the project will be managed under strict transparency measures, though details of its implementation remain vague.

Maraga’s statement comes amid rising public anxiety over Kenya’s growing debt and repeated allegations of financial mismanagement within state agencies.

For now, the former Chief Justice’s accusations have added fresh political heat to an already charged atmosphere, as the country inches closer to another election cycle.