Nakuru doctor in court to block payment of school fees through eCitizen

Dr. Magare Gikenyi, a Consultant Trauma and General Surgeon working for the county government of Nakuru, termed the initiative as illegal and has violated the principles of good governance.

Gikenyi argued that the program was done without any public participation, adding that the convenience fee of ksh.50 per transaction was "arrived at capriciously, whimsically and without any iota of public participation."

According to him, parents in rural areas who had been accustomed to paying school fees via non-monetary means (trading maize and beans to the school) will be "locked out through this unfair administrative action".

He therefore urged the court to halt the program until it meets the required threshold. 

This lies on the backdrop of a directive given by Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung'u that all government services will be onboarded on the eCitizen platform and every service will have access fees effective December 14, 2023.

The services and charges are as follows;

Below Ksh.199 will be charged at Ksh.5 

Between Ksh.200 - Ksh.299 at Ksh.10

Between Ksh.300 - Ksh.499 at Ksh.15

Between Ksh.500 - Ksh.699 at Ksh.20

Between Ksh.700 - Ksh.999 at Ksh.25

Over Ksh.1000 - Ksh.50

A subsequent directive by Education Principal Secretary (PS) Belio Kipsang on February 3, 2024, ordered parents of students in national schools to pay fees through the e-Citizen platform.

He said the move is part of the government’s efforts to onboard all government services onto the e-Citizen platform to enhance service delivery.

University of Nairobi (UoN) students and staff were then on Tuesday told that they will be required to make payments through the eCitizen platform to get meals from the university kitchens.