The Kenyan government’s recent acquisition of the e-citizen platform signifies a pivotal moment in the country’s digital governance landscape.

This move was announced by Mr. Bernard Ndung’u, the Treasury Director-General of Accounting Services and Quality Assurance, during a parliamentary briefing. It marks a transition from private ownership to full state control.

It comes after the original creators of the e-citizen system reached an out-of-court settlement with the government, positioning them as service system providers under the new arrangement.

At the heart of this transition lies a fundamental need to address longstanding concerns raised by Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu. These concerns regard the accountability and security of funds processed through the platform.

With daily collections soaring to an average of Sh350 million, a substantial increase from previous fiscal years, ensuring the integrity of the platform becomes imperative.

The government’s consolidation of control over e-citizen aims to mitigate risks such as revenue leakage, system downtime, and security vulnerabilities, thus safeguarding public funds and enhancing overall service delivery.

This strategic move highlights the government’s commitment to modernizing and digitizing public services in Kenya. With over 19,000 public services accessible through e-citizen, the transition to full state control is expected to streamline service onboarding processes and improve efficiency.

By leveraging the platform’s capabilities, the government aims to provide citizens, non-citizens, and businesses with seamless access to government services and electronic payment options.

These will in return reduce bureaucracy and enhance user experience.

The legal framework guiding the transition of the e-citizen platform from private ownership to full state control is multifaceted.

It includes provisions such as Section 15 of the 6th Schedule to the Constitution, the Transition to Devolved Government Act, the Intergovernmental Relations Act, and the County Governments Act.

These legal instruments lay the foundation for the government’s assumption of control over the platform. This will align it with broader governmental objectives aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability in service delivery.

The e-citizen platform, launched in 2014, has been instrumental in digitizing nearly 5,000 government services, revolutionizing the way citizens interact with their government.

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Through its Single Sign-On (SSO) capability, which utilizes the National ID as a unique identifier, the platform enables users to access a wide range of services conveniently and securely.

Recent developments, such as the migration of research licensing services by the National Commission for Science and Technology (NACOSTI) to the e-citizen platform, further demonstrate its expanding role in facilitating government-citizen interactions.

In December 2023, Njuguna Ndung’u, the Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary, announced that Kenyans would pay access fees to use e-citizen, with payments below Sh199 incurring a nominal fee of Sh.5.

While this move has sparked debates regarding accessibility and affordability, it underscores the government’s efforts to ensure the sustainability and viability of the platform in the long run.

The services offered through the e-citizen portal encompass a wide array of essential functions, ranging from business registration and licensing to driver testing and fee payments.

By centralizing these services on a single platform, e-citizen not only simplifies administrative processes but also enhances transparency and accountability in service delivery.

Moreover, its online payment capabilities enable users to conduct transactions conveniently, reducing the need for physical visits to government offices and minimizing bureaucratic hurdles.