The government is moving to tighten financial controls over the massive sums processed through the eCitizen platform by involving the Controller of Budget (COB), Dr. Margaret Nyakang’o, in a bid to increase transparency and curb misuse.
This development follows a decision made on Friday, April 18, where Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi proposed that all government agencies receiving payments through eCitizen will now need prior approval from the COB before accessing those funds.
A senior Treasury official, Bernard Ndung’u Director General of Accounting Services highlighted that despite the adoption of a unified paybill system designed to improve tracking of public funds, gaps in oversight remain, particularly in how the money is withdrawn and spent.
“There’s a growing concern about accountability and the lack of consistent oversight on funds handled outside the Consolidated Fund,” Ndung’u stated. “We believe placing these transactions under the watch of the Controller of Budget will prevent potential abuse and ensure spending aligns with approved budgets.”
Currently, the eCitizen system serves as the central digital gateway for accessing over 22,000 public services—from applying for passports and national IDs to hospital services and driving licenses. All related payments are funneled through a single paybill, which deposits the funds directly into respective government agency accounts.
The volume of transactions has surged significantly since the shift, raising the stakes in terms of managing and safeguarding public funds. Daily collections via the platform now range between Ksh700 million to Ksh1 billion, with annual revenues expected to exceed Ksh100 billion in the 2023/2024 financial year.
Treasury officials are now pushing for agencies to not only seek approval before making withdrawals but also to justify their expenditures and demonstrate that the funds were used as intended.
CS Mbadi stressed the importance of bringing the COB into the loop, stating that her involvement would help seal oversight loopholes that could otherwise enable mismanagement.
This move is part of a broader government effort to enforce accountability in public financial management and ensure that the digital transformation of services is matched by robust financial governance.
