The Director General of the Directorate of eCitizen Services, Ambassador Isaac Ochieng, has announced that the platform currently boasts 13.5 million active accounts.
“We have 13.5 million account holders, and this service is available to all Kenyans aged 18 and above,” stated Ochieng.
In a recent statement, Julius Kibet Bitok, the Principal Secretary for Immigration and Citizen Services, disclosed that the government is now generating nearly Sh900 million daily, a significant increase from Sh60 million, as citizens worldwide conveniently access various services.
“This is a promise fulfilled. It was one of the commitments made by the Kenya Kwanza government, and the implementation has been smooth. Gava Mkononi is now a reality,” Bitok remarked.
Bitok further noted that the platform has enabled Kenyans to navigate the bureaucratic hurdles associated with accessing government services.
“As a result, it has significantly reduced the queues at government offices and has also helped to prevent revenue leakages,” he added.
The platform is anticipated to generate over Sh2 billion daily in the upcoming year, with funds directed to the National Treasury.
“We have streamlined payments through a single pay bill number, which is 222. Previously, we had more than 1,000 pay bill accounts,” Bitok explained.
State data indicates that the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) is the most active government department on eCitizen, offering services such as driving license applications, vehicle registration, and vehicle inspections.
Immigration ranks first in the processing of passport applications, followed by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, which holds the third position due to its role in issuing certificates of good conduct. The Kenya Wildlife Service occupies the fourth position, with Business Registration Services following closely behind.
Ochieng remarked, “We are indeed an international case study, with numerous countries worldwide looking to us as a benchmark.”
Bitok noted that the platform has allowed state agencies, such as KWS, to double their revenue, despite initial pushback from stakeholders. He further mentioned that several nations are eager to learn from this model, with the Zambian government already taking notes.
Ruth Murungi, a boutique entrepreneur from Isiolo, is one of the six million Kenyans utilizing eCitizen services each month. She expressed that she can now meet her tax obligations promptly.
In Kisumu, David Osino, who owns a cybercafé named D-Lan Networks & Communications, dedicates much of his time to assisting clients with eCitizen services.
Kenyans residing abroad are also benefiting from these services. Steve Biko, a Kenyan artist based in Amsterdam, stated that he no longer needs to travel back home or visit the Kenyan Embassy for government services like passport renewal, as he can conveniently access them via his phone.
Asa Makori, a taxi operator in Kisumu, reminisces about the days when individuals had to visit KRA offices for services now provided by NTSA. He appreciates that these services can now be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection.
Maxwel Munyendo, an office administrator at Chams Adventures, highlighted the advantages of eCitizen, noting that it has significantly reduced the cost of doing business by allowing many tasks to be completed online, thus minimizing the need for multiple trips to government offices and the payment of bribes to officials and intermediaries.
The Ministry of Information, Communication, and Digital Economy has been instrumental in establishing the necessary digital infrastructure to support the operation of the eCitizen platform.
The principal secretary for ICT and Digital Economy, Engineer John Tanui, stated that his department is tasked with implementing technology that facilitates the operational functions of various state departments.
“Our department has been instrumental in providing a definitive technical solution for the eCitizen platform.”
“In our collaborative framework, the State Department for eCitizen Services is responsible for all aspects of Citizen Services, the State Department for ICT oversees technology-related issues, and the National Treasury manages revenue collection matters,” Bitok remarked.
