The Government is fully in charge of all data hosted on the E-Citizen online platform, Principal Secretary for Immigration and Citizen Services Dr. Belio Kipsang has assured Members of Parliament.
Dr. Kipsang made the clarification while appearing before the National Assembly’s Committee on Administration and Internal Security, chaired by Saku MP Dido Rasso.
He informed the committee that the State formally took over the platform’s core system from the original developer, Webmaster, through a legal procurement process. Webmaster was then retained only to provide system maintenance services.
“The Government took over the E-Citizen engine from Webmaster. The contract given to Webmaster now is only for maintenance,” Dr. Kipsang said. “It’s similar to buying a car—you still need someone to service it.”
The committee also sought answers about two private firms: Pesaflow and Olive Tree Media Ltd.
Dr. Kipsang explained that Pesaflow only handles payment processing for government services, while Olive Tree Media provides messaging and integration tools to support E-Citizen operations.
The PS highlighted the scale and importance of the E-Citizen platform, stating that it receives more than 500,000 visits per day and over 120,000 users interact with the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) system daily.
The eTA is a digital pre-clearance permit used to screen travelers before departure and is hosted on the E-Citizen portal.
However, Dr. Kipsang raised concern that unauthorized agents have created fake websites to deceive applicants seeking eTA services. He said the ministry has launched public awareness campaigns to educate users on the correct government portal.
Public Order Bill Presented to MPs
In a separate presentation, Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration Dr. Raymond Omollo appeared before the same committee to introduce the proposed Management of Public Order Bill, 2025.
The Bill aims to regulate public assemblies, demonstrations and picketing, while balancing the constitutional right to protest with the need to protect life and property.
Dr. Omollo told MPs that the proposed law seeks to respond to recent unrest, where peaceful demonstrations were infiltrated and turned violent, leading to loss of lives and destruction of property.
“This Bill is intended to provide a clear legal framework to regulate public gatherings and uphold security, while still protecting constitutional rights,” he said.
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