The Government has reaffirmed that it has full ownership and control of the e-Citizen platform, assuring Kenyans of the security of their personal data and the efficiency of digital service delivery.
Speaking in Mombasa after meeting the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security, Principal Secretary for Immigration and Citizen Services Dr. Belio Kipsang clarified that the State formally acquired the e-Citizen engine from its original developer, Webmaster, through a structured procurement process.
“The government took over the e-Citizen engine from Webmaster, and the contract was later awarded to the same company for system maintenance,” said Dr. Kipsang. He noted that the handover included the transfer of source codes, system architecture, operational knowledge, and full administrative control to the State.
The e-Citizen platform, launched in 2013, has rapidly evolved into a central hub for public service access. According to Dr. Kipsang, the number of services available has expanded from 397 in 2022 to more than 21,000 today, enabling Kenyans to access government services anytime, anywhere. This expansion, he emphasized, supports the country’s transition to a 24-hour digital economy.
Currently, more than 13.67 million Kenyans are registered on the platform, which records an average of 500,000 daily visits. Since its inception, the system has facilitated revenue collection of over Sh500 billion, with daily inflows ranging between Sh700 million and Sh1 billion.
Committee Vice Chairman Dido Rasso welcomed the government’s update, stressing Parliament’s role in ensuring accountability and efficiency in the platform’s operations. “What we want is assurance that the resources Kenyans put into the e-Citizen platform are well used for their benefit. As Parliament, we will work with the Ministry and Treasury to allocate sufficient funds to improve the system,” he said.
The reaffirmation comes amid heightened public scrutiny over data protection and the management of digital platforms. By asserting direct ownership and control, the government seeks to instill confidence in citizens that the platform will remain a reliable, secure, and transparent avenue for accessing critical public services.
