NAIROBI, Kenya – A new audit report has exposed significant weaknesses in Kenya’s digital payments platform, eCitizen, revealing discrepancies that have raised alarms over the handling of Sh44.8 billion in government revenue collected during the 2023/2024 financial year.
According to the Auditor-General, there were notable inconsistencies between the revenue statements recorded by the government and the figures on the eCitizen portal, casting doubt on the accuracy of the funds’ distribution.
The report indicates that the actual recipients of the Sh44.8 billion in revenue cannot be verified, prompting serious questions about accountability.
The audit also uncovered a lack of supporting documentation for Sh7.1 billion held across 21 bank accounts, with no clear explanation provided for these funds, which include both local and foreign currency balances.
Unsupported balances from previous years, amounting to Sh145.8 million, were also flagged, further compounding concerns over the platform’s financial transparency.
Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu highlighted the limited control the government has over the eCitizen platform, with the platform’s vendor handling key system functions.
This reliance on external vendors, the report warned, poses a serious risk to revenue security, system reliability, and overall accountability.
Key IT controls were also found to be insufficient, leaving the platform vulnerable to security breaches and operational disruptions.
The eCitizen platform, which integrates 17,692 government functions, plays a pivotal role in public service delivery and Vision 2030 initiatives.
However, the audit revealed anomalies in revenue accountability for the year ending June 30, 2024, signaling systemic issues that could undermine the platform’s strategic importance.
Adding to the concerns, the contract with the private vendor, signed on May 25, 2023, has been criticized for heavily favoring the vendor.
The contract lacks specific start and end dates and allows the vendor to shut down the platform if the government chooses to terminate the agreement.
