NAIROBI, Kenya – Tourists visiting Nairobi National Park on Friday, January 3, were met with an unexpected hurdle as a failure of the eCitizen platform left many stranded at the park’s main gate.
The system, mandated for all government service payments, including park entry fees, was unable to process transactions, resulting in long queues and widespread frustration.
Some visitors reported waiting up to three hours before gaining access, while others turned to social media to voice their grievances.
The eCitizen platform, which President William Ruto mandated as the sole payment system for government services in November, experienced significant lags attributed to a surge in transactions.
The platform’s inability to process payments for corporate accounts used by tour operators exacerbated the delays, catching many off guard.
A quick review of the platform revealed that several services were non-operational, leaving not only park-goers but users of other government services in limbo.
The move to consolidate payments through eCitizen aligns with President Ruto’s broader vision to curb financial mismanagement within government services.
However, Friday’s events raise concerns about the platform’s ability to handle peak demand and its impact on key sectors like tourism.
The system, mandated for all government service payments, including park entry fees, was unable to process transactions, resulting in long queues and widespread frustration.
Some visitors reported waiting up to three hours before gaining access, while others turned to social media to voice their grievances.
The eCitizen platform, which President William Ruto mandated as the sole payment system for government services in November, experienced significant lags attributed to a surge in transactions.
The platform’s inability to process payments for corporate accounts used by tour operators exacerbated the delays, catching many off guard.
A quick review of the platform revealed that several services were non-operational, leaving not only park-goers but users of other government services in limbo.
The move to consolidate payments through eCitizen aligns with President Ruto’s broader vision to curb financial mismanagement within government services.
However, Friday’s events raise concerns about the platform’s ability to handle peak demand and its impact on key sectors like tourism.
