In Summary:
- Nakuru doctor challenges eCitizen for school fees, claiming it’s unfair and lacks public consultation; seeks court intervention.
Feb 7 (TopNews) – A Nakuru County doctor has taken legal action to oppose the government’s mandate for all services to be paid through the eCitizen platform. Dr. Magare Gikenyi, a Consultant Trauma and General Surgeon employed by the Nakuru County government, has labeled the initiative as unlawful, claiming it goes against the principles of good governance.
Gikenyi asserts that the program was implemented without adequate public consultation. He particularly criticizes the introduction of a convenience fee of Ksh.50 per transaction, which he believes was decided arbitrarily without any public input.
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The doctor raises concerns about the impact on parents in rural areas who traditionally pay school fees through non-monetary methods like bartering maize and beans with schools.
He argues that such families will face exclusion due to what he perceives as unjust administrative measures.
Seeking intervention, Gikenyi urges the court to suspend the program until it meets the necessary standards. This legal action comes in response to a directive issued by Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u, stipulating that all government services must be accessible through the eCitizen platform, with accompanying access fees effective from December 14, 2023.
The services and their corresponding charges are outlined below:
- Below Ksh.199: Ksh.5
- Between Ksh.200 – Ksh.299: Ksh.10
- Between Ksh.300 – Ksh.499: Ksh.15
- Between Ksh.500 – Ksh.699: Ksh.20
- Between Ksh.700 – Ksh.999: Ksh.25
- Over Ksh.1000: Ksh.50
Furthermore, a directive from Education Principal Secretary (PS) Belio Kipsang on February 3, 2024, mandates parents of students in national schools to pay fees through the eCitizen platform.
This move aligns with the government’s broader strategy to integrate all its services into the eCitizen platform, aimed at improving service delivery.