Government’s Daily Earnings from eCitizen Service Revealed
The Principal Secretary for the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services, Julius Bitok, recently disclosed that the government earns nearly Ksh1 billion daily from the e-Citizen service.
Bitok was asked to provide details on the performance of the service during his appearance before the National Assembly Committee on Administration and Internal Security.
This review was part of the Supplementary Estimates II for the 2024/2025 Financial Year on Friday.
Although he did not specify an exact figure, Bitok mentioned that the daily revenue fluctuates between Ksh700 million and Ksh900 million, providing a rough range.
This income amounts to an estimated Ksh24 billion annually. Bitok clarified that all the money generated from the e-Citizen service is directly remitted to the National Treasury.
Additionally, Bitok urged the Treasury to allocate an extra Ksh300 million to improve the e-Citizen platform. This additional funding would be used to enhance the system’s usability and productivity, ensuring it remains efficient and accessible for users.
The planned upgrades would include the maintenance of the e-passport system, the development of a national digital ID, the production of third-generation ID cards, and the modernization of the Integrated Population Registration System (IPRS), among other improvements.
During the meeting, it was also disclosed that Ksh497.5 million had been allocated to the State Department on December 16, 2024, but this amount had not been reflected in the Supplementary Estimates II for the current financial year.
Alongside this, Bitok requested an additional Ksh100 million to supplement the existing Ksh111.48 million allocated for repatriation efforts.
Bitok pointed out the growing challenge posed by illegal immigrants entering Kenya, noting that unlawful immigration is becoming an increasingly significant issue.
He emphasized that more funding is needed to manage the rising number of court orders for repatriation, which require considerable resources for both local and international travel.
“The current allocation of Ksh111.48 million is not enough to cover these costs,” Bitok explained.
This call for additional funding comes shortly after Labour and Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua announced plans to deport unlawful immigrants, particularly those living on the streets, in an effort to address homelessness in the country.
Mutua shared that a census is underway to identify immigrants, both legal and illegal, in Kenya. “We are just waiting for the budget allocation to break down not only the nationalities of these individuals but also their origin within Kenya,” he stated.
In conclusion, the chair of the committee, Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo, announced that the review of the Supplementary Estimates II for the 2024/2025 financial year had officially concluded.
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