Treasury Proposes Access Fees to Replace eCitizen Convenience Fees

Treasury Proposes Access Fees to Replace eCitizen Convenience Fees

The National Treasury has proposed new regulations that would introduce access fees on the eCitizen platform, replacing the convenience fees previously charged to users of Kenya’s digital government services.

The proposed charges are intended to help fund the operation, maintenance and management of eCitizen, a platform used by millions of Kenyans to access government services and make payments online.

Treasury officials presented the proposals to the National Assembly Committee on Delegated Legislation on Thursday, August 27, 2026.

Under the proposed Public Finance Management (eCitizen System Management) Regulations, 2026, the government would establish a formal legal framework for managing the platform and collecting fees from users.

The regulations seek to place eCitizen under government ownership, control, hosting, administration and maintenance through the National Treasury.

The proposals would also create a Steering Committee and Technical Committee to oversee the platform’s operations and management.

MPs Question eCitizen Fee Powers

Members of Parliament raised concerns about the proposed regulations, particularly provisions giving the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury powers to provide policy direction and prescribe standards for revenue collection through eCitizen.

Likuyani MP Innocent Mugabe questioned whether the proposed powers could give the Executive excessive control over revenue collected through the digital platform.

“On Regulation 14(3), where the Cabinet Secretary shall provide policy direction and prescribe standards for collection of revenue under the system, I think that is over-delegation.”

The committee also questioned provisions allowing the Treasury Cabinet Secretary to appoint members of the eCitizen Steering Committee.

Members wanted clearer rules on how individuals would qualify for appointment, including requirements based on expertise, experience and representation.

Committee chair Samuel Chepkonga called for clear qualification criteria to ensure appointments are based on merit.

The MPs are also expected to scrutinise how the proposed access fees will be determined and whether users will face additional costs when accessing government services.

Government Takes Full Control of eCitizen

Treasury officials told the committee that the government now fully operates the eCitizen platform after taking over its management from a private vendor in 2023.

The officials also explained how money collected through the platform is transferred to government accounts.

According to Treasury, eCitizen operates under a T+2 settlement system, meaning funds collected through payment providers are transferred to a central account at a local bank within two days of a transaction.

The system is designed to ensure that government revenue collected through eCitizen is transferred and accounted for within a defined period.

The proposed regulations therefore seek to establish clearer rules governing the platform’s financial and administrative operations.

New Rules for Digital Government Services

The proposed access fee system would replace the convenience fee arrangement previously associated with eCitizen.

Treasury argues that the new framework will provide a formal basis for managing costs associated with operating the digital platform.

However, the proposals still require parliamentary scrutiny before they can take effect.

The committee’s review comes as the government continues expanding digital access to public services, with eCitizen serving as a central platform for applications, payments and other government transactions.

The proposed regulations are expected to determine how the platform is governed, how revenue is collected and how its technical infrastructure is maintained.

For Kenyans, the key issue will be whether the proposed eCitizen access fees will increase the cost of accessing government services or simply replace the existing convenience fee structure.

Parliament will continue reviewing the regulations before determining whether the proposed framework meets the requirements of the law and adequately protects the interests of citizens using eCitizen.

ALSO READ: IEBC Responds to Claims Politicians Bought Ksh200M House for Chairperson, Issues Demands to Gachagua

Treasury Proposes Access Fees to Replace eCitizen Convenience Fees