Govt Introduces New Charges For Accessing eCitizen [RATES]

Kenyans seeking government services on eCitizen will now be required to pay a nominal administrative fee per transaction.

This is according to charges Gazetted on Friday, December 22 by Treasury Cabinet Secretary (CS) Njuguna Ndung'u with the charges ranging from Ksh5 to Ksh50.

The Digital Payments Platform is integrated with all available electronic payment platforms in Kenya. This includes mobile money, electronic bank payments, real-time gross settlements (RTGS), wallets, debit or credit cards and other payment channels. 

Rates

The eCitizen.go.ke will therefore charge a nominal administrative fee per transaction, which shall be pro-rated as follows:

1. Payments of below Ksh199 will come with a cost of Ksh5. 
2. Kenyans making payments of between Ksh200 and Ksh299 will be charged Ksh10. 
3. Payments of between Ksh300 and Ksh499 will come with a charge rate of Ksh15. 
4. For eCitizen payments ranging between Ksh500 and Ksh699, one will pay a charge rate of Ksh20.
5. Payments ranging between Ksh700 and Ksh999 will come with a charge of Ksh25. 
6. Any payment above Ksh1,000 will cost one Ksh50. 
7. For any US dollar, one will be charged $1. 

"The charges take effect immediately," the CS stated. 

Ndung'u further noted that Kenya developed the eCitizen.go.ke Digital Payments Platform pursuant to Article 201 (a) and Article 6 (3) of the Constitution. 

He mentioned that it provides for the principle of openness and accountability of public finances, and, the obligation to deliver the widest possible access to government services respectively; and as further guided by the Public Finance Management Act. 

The CS said the platform should be the framework through which citizens and all persons can access and pay for Government services. However, he noted that the pro-rated changes will apply to all services unless otherwise waived by himself. 

Ndung'u also revoked the Gazette Notice No. 1350 of 2023, which approved a blanket charge of Ksh 50 per transaction on the eCitizen platform.

“The eCitizen.go.ke shall charge a nominal access fee of fifty (KSh.50) shillings per transaction in Kenya shillings or one United States of America dollar (US$1) per transaction for foreign designated currency transactions unless otherwise waived by the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning," read the revoked notice.

The recent notice provides charges based on the amount of the transaction as opposed to the previous notice which provided a uniform fee of Ksh50. 

"The public is advised to visit www.eCitizen.go.ke to view the list of services for which payment can be made digitally," Ndung'u advised.