- Treasury now wants all payments through eCitizen accessed only after clearance from Controller of Budget.
- Controller of Budget Dr. Margaret Nyakang’o to oversee withdrawal and spending of funds.
- The system processes up to Ksh1 billion daily, with projections crossing Ksh100 billion annually.
The government has announced fresh measures to tighten financial oversight on the booming eCitizen platform. Going forward, government agencies receiving payments through the system will only access the funds after obtaining approval from the Controller of Budget (COB), Dr. Margaret Nyakang’o.
This directive was confirmed by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi on Friday, April 18, in a bid to enhance transparency and seal potential loopholes in public financial management.
Although the unified eCitizen paybill was introduced to streamline revenue collection, senior Treasury officials say concerns persist—especially around how these funds are withdrawn and utilized.
“There’s growing concern over how agencies spend money collected through eCitizen without adequate checks,” said Bernard Ndung’u, Director General of Accounting Services.
He added that oversight outside the Consolidated Fund is weak, and COB supervision would bring much-needed discipline to public spending.
The eCitizen platform has become a vital hub for over 22,000 public services, ranging from ID applications to hospital payments. All fees are paid through one paybill, then distributed to individual government accounts.
With daily revenues now estimated between Ksh700 million and Ksh1 billion, Treasury estimates annual collections will surpass Ksh100 billion in the 2023/2024 fiscal year.
Such figures have heightened the urgency to safeguard the funds and ensure they are put to proper use.
Treasury CS John Mbadi emphasized the need for the Controller of Budget to play a central role in monitoring how these funds are used.
“By bringing the COB on board, we are sealing oversight gaps that could allow public money to be misused,” he stated.
Government agencies will now be required not just to seek withdrawal approvals, but also to provide clear justification and spending reports.
This move reflects a larger government strategy aimed at improving accountability in the era of digital service delivery. With public services increasingly offered online, authorities say financial governance must evolve in step to ensure taxpayer funds are protected.
