Gov’t defends Ksh.50 eCitizen transaction charge

The government has defended the administrative fee of Ksh.50 charged per transaction on the eCitizen platform.

National Treasury PS Dr. Kamau Thugge on Tuesday said that the National Treasury makes full disclosure of all revenues raised and expenditure.

While responding to a case filed by activist Okiya Omtatah, Thugge claims that Omtatah has never sought any information regarding the eCitizen portal from the National Assembly.

The PS further argued that members of the public are beneficiaries of the eCitizen portal and therefore there is no basis for the allegation that there is no public participation in the operationalisation of the portal.

“The petitioner has not demonstrated and adduced any evidence to demonstrate that Treasury deliberately contravened the constitution,” reads the PS’ affidavit.

In the case, Omatatah claims that government has not demonstrated that the funds collected through the portal are deposited in the Consolidated Fund’s National Exchequer account as required by law.

The activist further claims that the government had not disclosed the amount raised and how it has been used.

Omtatah wants the money raised through the platform and how it is utilised made public claiming that the administrative fee of  Ksh.50 per transaction on the platform is unjustified, exorbitant and exploitative.