Inside the Multimillion-Shilling Deals Powering Kenya’s eCitizen Platform
The government’s digital gateway, eCitizen, has come under fresh public scrutiny after it emerged that private firms contracted to maintain the platform are pocketing hundreds of millions annually under a three-year agreement.
Speaking before the National Assembly Administration and Internal Security Committee on Tuesday, Citizen Services Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang revealed the structure of the multimillion-shilling contracts underpinning the country’s flagship digital service hub.
eCitizen, launched in 2014, now hosts over 5,000 services from various government agencies, including the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA), and the National Registration Bureau. But it’s the consortium behind its operations that’s drawing attention.
Who Runs eCitizen?
According to Kipsang, the Immigration Department contracted a developers’ consortium—ECS (Electronic Services Solutions) LLC—to manage the platform. ECS is a joint venture made up of three private companies: Webmasters Kenya Limited, Pesaflow Limited, and Olive Tree Media Limited.
Each firm has a specific role. While Webmasters Kenya handles general development, Pesaflow manages the payment infrastructure, and Olive Tree Media oversees bulk messaging, security support for notifications, and revenue mobilisation.
A Pricey Partnership
The current contract with ECS began on May 25, 2023, and will run for three years. The figures disclosed during the parliamentary session showed just how costly this digital infrastructure is to maintain.
The government paid Ksh.50 million for the initial “standardisation” of the eCitizen system. Ongoing support and maintenance is billed at an annual rate ranging from Ksh.300 million to Ksh.1.08 billion, depending on the number of services onboarded.
In addition, the platform’s payment gateway attracts a charge of Ksh.10 to Ksh.20 per transaction.
The onboarding of services also carries a hefty price tag:
- Basic services: Up to Ksh.1 million per batch, reducing to Ksh.400,000 for onboarding more than 3,000.
- Intermediate services: Range between Ksh.3 million (0–50 services) and Ksh.1 million (over 3,000).
- Complex services: Range between Ksh.5 million and Ksh.2 million based on volume.
Moreover, custom services incur daily rates for personnel:
- A Senior Project Manager or Developer costs the government Ksh.52,500 per day.
- A software tester, researcher, or system analyst earns Ksh.27,000 daily under the agreement.
Security and Oversight
The Principal Secretary reassured MPs that the system is closely monitored through a Security Operation Centre (SOC) at Nyayo House. The centre carries out real-time monitoring, intrusion detection, and routine penetration testing to safeguard data and service integrity.
“We proactively assess potential cyber threats and system vulnerabilities,” said Kipsang. “We also conduct Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) in partnership with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) to meet global privacy standards.”
Past Breaches and Current Measures
Despite these measures, the platform suffered a significant cyberattack in June 2023, which disrupted services for over a week. Then-ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo confirmed that no data was compromised, though the incident heightened public concerns about the safety of sensitive information on eCitizen.
All funds collected via the portal are transmitted directly to the National Treasury, with the Directorate of eCitizen Services overseeing platform operations.
As Kenya continues its digital transformation journey, scrutiny over the cost and security of platforms like eCitizen is likely to intensify. The question remains: Is the government getting value for money, or are private contractors cashing in on a digital gold mine?
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Inside the Multimillion-Shilling Deals Powering Kenya’s eCitizen Platform