Treasury CS Summoned Over e-Citizen Revenue Management
National Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary (CS) John Mbadi has been summoned by legislators over the placement of the e-Citizen platform under the State Department of Immigration instead of the Treasury.
MPs argue that e-Citizen, which handles key government revenue, should be managed by the National Treasury.
A House Committee has directed CS Mbadi and the State Department’s Principal Secretary, Dr. Chris Kiptoo, to explain how the platform operates and how revenue is collected.
During a meeting with Dr. Kiptoo on the Budget Policy Statement for the 2025/2026 Budget, Finance Committee Chairperson MP Kuria Kimani ordered both officials to appear before the Committee next week.
They are expected to clarify how the National Treasury, responsible for revenue collection, relinquished control of the platform to the State Department of Immigration and Citizen Services.
Lawmakers have raised concerns that the government relies on a contracted vendor for 18 critical functions of the platform, posing risks of revenue leakage, security breaches, and operational disruptions.
“Revenue collection falls under the National Treasury. What criteria justified shifting this responsibility to the Immigration Department?” MP Kimani questioned.
MPs were unsatisfied with Accountant General Bernard Ndung’u’s explanation and demanded to know what measures the Treasury has taken to prevent misuse of funds.
“Since you no longer control the platform’s operations, how do you ensure there is no loss of revenue?” MPs Okuome Adipo (Karachuonyo) and John Ariko (Turkana South) asked.
Ndung’u explained that the National Treasury and Immigration Department have an existing agreement on platform operations. He assured lawmakers that the Treasury retains financial control while the Immigration Department facilitates service delivery.
“Revenue signatories are from the Treasury, ensuring financial oversight,” he said.
Dr. Kiptoo, who briefly appeared before the Committee, excused himself for another engagement, leaving Ndung’u to handle the discussions.
Meanwhile, the Committee has directed CS Mbadi to report on actions against Accounting Officers who failed to remit statutory deductions and delayed pension payments.
MP Kimani criticized the Treasury over unpaid retirees’ benefits amounting to Sh54 billion, citing records from the Retirement Benefits Authority (RBA). Treasury officials revealed plans to transition from a manual pension payment system to an automated one by May 2025.
Lawmakers also called for legal action against Accounting Officers who defaulted on statutory remittances. Additionally, they questioned discrepancies in the Budget Policy Statement for 2025/2026, where two different total figures—Sh4.226 trillion and Sh4.336 trillion—were presented. Ndung’u promised the Ministry would clarify the figures before the House finalizes its review.
The Committee also directed the Treasury to reconsider the proposed National Government-Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) allocation, which has been slashed by 50% from Sh70 billion to Sh31 billion in the 2025/2026 budget.