The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by Hon. Tindi Mwale (Butere), has resolved to meet heads of seven entities as it investigates the alleged diversion of billions of shillings from the Government Digital Payment Platform (eCitizen).
Hon. Mwale made the announcement today when the Committee engaged Principal Secretaries Chris Kiptoo (National Treasury), Dr. Belio Kipsang (Immigration and Citizen Services), and John Tanui (ICT and the Digital Economy) over the Auditor-General’s Special Audit Report on the eCitizen platform.
According to the report, Sh9.4 billion was irregularly funneled from the platform. The report further details how the funds were diverted and paid to private entities.
The Committee has invited heads of seven entities, including the office of the Attorney General and Equity Bank to explain how the funds were channeled out of the system.
Other entities of interest include Pesa Flow Limited, Goldrock Limited, Olive Media Limited, Webmasters Kenya, and Electronic Citizen Solutions.
“We expect the entities to give their side of the story and explain how they were licensed to collect funds from Kenyans, how approvals were granted, the amounts they are holding, and any possible diversion,” said Hon. Mwale.
The Auditor-General’s report also raised concerns that the government does not have full control of the platform, relying instead on a vendor.
“Noting that the majority of government services are provided through the platform, control by the vendor creates a single point of failure,” the report, tabled in the House on April 2, 2025, stated in part.
However, during the session, PS Kiptoo assured the committee that the platform is wholly owned by the government under a handover agreement signed in January 2023.
He explained that he, together with his counterparts from the State Department of ICT and the State Department of Immigration, signed the agreement.
“As per the agreement, the vendor agreed to completely and unconditionally hand over the eCitizen platform to the Government of Kenya,” said PS Kiptoo, who made a presentation to the Committee on behalf of his colleagues.
By Anthony Solly
