The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Related Articles
Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura has addressed questions surrounding the ownership of the eCitizen platform, clarifying that it is fully owned by the government, which contracts various ICT service providers to support its operations.
Click here to join our WhatsApp Channel
Speaking on Thursday, Mwaura emphasized that while the government owns the platform, it has a contractual arrangement with Webmaster Kenya Limited—a local ICT firm—for its management. He explained that the platform has been undergoing a 10-year pilot phase aimed at building capacity and enhancing its features.
Mwaura also mentioned that other companies such as Oracle Corporation and Microsoft are involved in providing essential backend services—Oracle supports the IFMIS system, while Microsoft supplies digital infrastructure.
He highlighted the government’s broader tech development efforts, including the establishment of an Innovation and AI Hub at the Kenya School of Government, and development hubs at Konza Technopolis, underlining the state’s commitment to growing local technology and innovation.
Mwaura also addressed issues raised by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu and encouraged public feedback to help improve the platform.
In 2023, the government mandated that all payments for public services be made through the eCitizen platform. On May 25 of that year, a three-year contract was signed with a consortium consisting of Webmasters Kenya Limited, Pesaflow Limited, and Olive Tree Media Limited to maintain and support the platform.
Webmasters Kenya developed the eCitizen software, while Pesaflow handles payment processing and analytics. Olive Tree Media manages SMS, USSD, and mobile app functionalities for the platform.
Despite the government’s claim of ownership, the contract terms reveal that the three companies retain control over their proprietary technologies and could withdraw them if the partnership ends. The consortium earns revenue from the Sh50 transaction fee charged to users of the platform.
