Tuesday, September 9,
2025 - Principal Secretary for Immigration, Belio Kipsang, has disclosed
that the Government spends approximately Ksh1.1 billion annually to service and
maintain the eCitizen platform.
Speaking during an interview on Tuesday, September 9th,
2025, Kipsang revealed that the platform, which facilitates digital access to Government
services, generates up to Ksh 1 billion in daily revenue.
“To maintain this system, we pay nearly Ksh 120 million
monthly to three tech firms,” Kipsang stated, noting that the annual cost
averages Ksh1.1 billion.
The three contracted firms include Webmaster, responsible
for technical maintenance; Pesa Flow, which manages the payment gateway; and
Olive Tree, tasked with handling SMS-based feedback mechanisms.
Kipsang emphasized that the companies were selected through
a formal procurement process and not arbitrarily appointed.
“These firms were competitively identified. It’s not that we
woke up one morning and picked them,” he said.
Defending the selection, Kipsang explained that the firms
had a competitive edge, having developed the system initially.
“It was easier for them to maintain it, given their
familiarity and technical advantage,” he added.
He further clarified that while the Government owns the
eCitizen infrastructure, ongoing maintenance requires specialized service
providers to ensure seamless operation and user experience.
Recently, the Auditor General raised serious concerns over
financial irregularities linked to the eCitizen platform, flagging billions in
public funds that remain unaccounted for.
According to a special audit report published in March 2025,
over Ksh 7.05 billion held in collection and settlement accounts lacked formal
Service Level Agreements (SLAs) between the National Treasury and financial
service providers.
This absence of binding contracts has created loopholes that
may allow service providers to utilize public funds without oversight,
undermining accountability and service delivery.
Additionally, the report highlighted that Kenyans have
irregularly paid more than Ksh2.1 billion through a controversial Ksh50
convenience fee, which was imposed contrary to legal provisions.
These findings have intensified scrutiny over the platform’s
governance and raised calls for greater transparency in its financial
operations.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
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