Dispute over Investigation into Sh9.4 billion e-Citizen platform between Treasury and Auditors
In the realm of current news, a heated debate has emerged between the Auditor General and the National Treasury over financial irregularities in the e-Citizen platform. An audit report has exposed significant losses and irregularities, with a reported Sh9.4 billion missing and Sh2.6 billion illegally collected in convenience fees from Kenyans by a private vendor, Webmasters Kenya Ltd.
The audit report, presented to Parliament, reveals that funds were diverted and paid out to questionable private companies. This revelation has led Parliament to recommend scrapping the e-Citizen platform due to the substantial financial losses and irregularities.
However, National Treasury Principal Secretary Dr. Chris Kiptoo has publicly disputed the Auditor General's claims, denying the alleged Sh9 billion loss and Sh2.5 billion illegal collections. Dr. Kiptoo asserts that the reported financial figures and interpretations are not accurate.
Key details of the irregularities include the unlawful diversion of Sh9.4 billion from government revenue, the illegal collection of Sh2.6 billion in convenience fees, payments to private companies with questionable legitimacy, and weak or absent financial oversight and controls enabling these irregular fund flows.
This conflicting narrative between the Auditor General’s audit findings and the Treasury's position highlights an ongoing dispute over the exact scale and nature of the financial mismanagement via e-Citizen.
Meanwhile, other news headlines this week include multiple fatalities in road accidents in Namanga and Kisumu, with 26 and seven people killed respectively. Anti-riot police have also blocked Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara's home, and Trending Now features a statement from DP Kindiki and Murkomen about questioning Gachagua over terrorism claims. The topics of E-Citizen, Treasury PS Chris Kiptoo, Auditor General, Public Accounts Committee, Trending Now, and Popular this week are dominating the news cycle.
Popular this week also includes news about six killed in an early Namanga road accident, accusations against the Speaker of silencing UDA critics in House, a businesswoman undergoing leadership changes in parastatals, Amref revealing names of plane crash victims, and Parliament being cited for rent seeking in the name of oversight role.
[1] e-Citizen Platform: Auditor General's Report Reveals Financial Irregularities and Losses [2] Parliament Recommends Scrapping e-Citizen Platform Due to Financial Mismanagement [3] National Treasury Disputes Auditor General's Claims on e-Citizen Platform [4] Treasury PS Chris Kiptoo Denies Auditor General's Allegations on e-Citizen Platform [5] Deep Dive: The Hidden Cost of Being Dark-Skinned in Kenya (Unrelated to the main topic, but part of the Popular this week section)
- The Auditor General's report on the e-Citizen platform indicates financial irregularities and losses, detailing the unlawful diversion of Sh9.4 billion, the illegal collection of Sh2.6 billion in convenience fees, and payments to private companies with questionable legitimacy.
- In response to the Auditor General's report, Parliament has recommended scrapping the e-Citizen platform due to substantial financial losses and irregularities.
- Contrary to the Auditor General's claims, National Treasury Principal Secretary Dr. Chris Kiptoo has publicly disputed the allegations and denies the reported Sh9 billion loss and Sh2.5 billion illegal collections.
