The cabinet, in a sitting held on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, has sanctioned payment of fees through eCitizen.
In a despatch after the meeting, the government said the policy would affect institutions spanning from basic education to tertiary and university levels.
“In keeping up with the administration’s digital transformation agenda, the cabinet sanctioned the digitization of the entire education system, spanning from basic education to tertiary and university levels,” the despatch read in part.
According to the government, the move will address the governance challenges within the education system that have led to parallel accounts and the charging of unauthorized school fees.
The move, according to the government, will curb the diversion of the exchequer releases on capitation and other fraudulent activities that undermine the integrity of the education system, leading to the enrollment of ghost students.
Ruling on eCitizen
This comes days after the High Court issued orders suspending President William Ruto’s administration initiative requiring all parents to pay for schools or any services through the eCitizen platform.
The Court, on February 7, 2024, suspended a circular by Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang ordering parents of students in national schools to pay fees through the eCitizen platform pending the hearing of a case by Nakuru doctor Magare Gikenyi.
“An interim conservatory order is herby issued suspending the circular or letter by the Principal Secretary (Belio R Kipsang), Ministry of Education dated January 31, 2024, requiring parents/Guardians and or students to pay fees and or any other levies for all government learning institutions through eCitizen platform or any other digital platform(s) until February 13, 2024, when the court will issue further directions in this petition,” Justice Mwita ordered.
The orders were issued after Gikenyi moved to court challenging the government initiative to pay for all services through the eCitizen platform.
The doctor says that the recently introduced initiative is illegal and has violated the principles of good governance.
Gikenyi argued that the program was done without any public participation, adding that the convenience fee of Ksh50 per transaction was “arrived at capriciously, whimsically and without any iota of public participation.”
