Govt to establish a disaster recovery site for eCitizen
By William Muthama, August 15, 2025Principal Secretary for Immigration and Citizen Services, Belio Kipsang, has announced plans to establish a disaster recovery site for the eCitizen digital payment platform, aiming to enhance the security of public funds and prevent potential system disruptions.
Speaking on Friday, August 15, 2025, during a briefing with the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security, Kipsang said the move comes as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen digital governance and protect sensitive government data.
“The government is committed to safeguarding public resources and ensuring the eCitizen platform is resilient against any eventuality,” said Kipsang.
“This includes creating a dedicated disaster recovery site that can handle emergencies without compromising services.”
Platform Oversight
The briefing focused on eCitizen operations, including the Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) system and the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration (Amendment) Bill 2025 on stateless persons.
Committee members sought clarity on accountability measures following a recent Auditor-General report, which flagged transparency gaps and the potential misuse of billions of shillings within the platform.
Kipsang assured lawmakers that the government has full control over all data hosted on eCitizen and that measures are being strengthened to prevent unauthorised access and fraudulent activity.
He explained that the disaster recovery site would complement existing security measures, allowing critical services to continue even during technical failures.
“Just like a car requires maintenance after purchase, our digital platforms need constant oversight and backup,” Kipsang added, stressing the importance of public awareness and vigilance in using the system.
Future-Proofing eCitizen
The PS also highlighted ongoing collaborations with service providers handling payment integrations and messaging systems for Citizen.
The disaster recovery initiative is expected to improve system reliability, reduce downtime, and protect taxpayers’ money against risks posed by cyber threats or technical malfunctions.
The government plans to implement the disaster recovery site as part of a broader strategy to reinforce eCitizen’s infrastructure, ensuring the platform can manage growing traffic while maintaining transparency, security, and efficient service delivery for citizens.