- Last week, the government announced that it would be mandatory for parents and guardians to pay school fees through e-citizen.
- This aligns with the government's initiative to streamline payment processes under the common pay bill number 222222.
Image: PCS
President William Ruto on Wednesday affirmed that payment of school fees through ecitizen will proceed.
Speaking in Tokyo, Ruto raised concern that there was resistance to the digitisation of government services by corrupt cartels.
However, Ruto affirmed that the process won't be stopped.
"Payment of school fees through ecitizen won’t be stopped since it helps to eliminate the payment of extra levies by some schools," Ruto said.
The Head of State was speaking in Tokyo, Japan, during a meeting with the Kenyan diaspora.
Championing for digitisation, the President noted that cash payments are prone to abuse and we want to reduce and finally end it.
Ruto said that some individuals were operating some personal paybill, collecting government money from Kenyans.
"We have reduced 3000 government paybills to one. Some people have been operating personal paybills and collecting government money. That will stop," he stated.
Last week, the government announced that it would be mandatory for parents and guardians to pay school fees through e-citizen.
This is after the Ministry of Education issued a directive mandating parents or guardians with learners in national schools to use the eCitizen platform for fee payments.
This aligns with the government's initiative to streamline payment processes under the common pay bill number 222222.
In a circular addressed to all principals of national schools on January 31, 2024, Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang instructed the submission of the institution's bank account details to facilitate the onboarding process.
"The directorate of e-Citizen, in collaboration with the Information Communication Technology Authority, Ministry of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy, and the National Treasury, is coordinating the onboarding of all government services onto the eCitizen platform to enhance service delivery, " reads the statement.
However, the Council of Governors asked the government to suspend the move.
CoG education committee chairman Eric Mutai said there should be a proper structure and information for the move to be implemented.
"I laud the government initiative to have fees paid at the Citizen. However, we just call for proper structures and proper information because children have reported to school and learning is ongoing," he said.
Mutai called on the government to be organised when giving out such directives to avoid disruption as schools have resumed.
To ensure a smooth rollout, State Department for Migration and Citizen Service Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said the new payment system will be implemented in phases beginning with national schools and subsequently extending to extra county and county schools.
Bitok said the implementation of the payment process through the eCitizen forum will be undertaken in consultation with stakeholders.
"We are open to discussions and other inputs that will support the objectives of the directive," he said.