NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 11 – President William Ruto has attributed the growth in Kenya’s tourism revenue to the country’s accelerated adoption of digital technologies, highlighting how innovations in government services are transforming the sector.
Speaking during the launch of the Jamhuri Thematic Week, centered on Wildlife, Tourism, and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), Ruto emphasized the role of digital platforms in streamlining revenue collection and enhancing transparency.
“In 2022, we had 300 government services available on the digital platform. Today, we have 23,000 services available, including payment for government services, and Kenya Wildlife is not left behind,” Ruto said.
The president pointed to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) as a success story following its onboarding on the E-citizen, Kenya’s flagship digital platform.
According to the head of state, KWS previously collected between Sh4 billion and Sh5 billion annually.
KWS revenue, he said, jumped to Sh7.95 billion last year, a surge he attributed to digital ticketing and the elimination of fake tickets.
“There is no way for you to bribe someone and get into the park. You must be identified by a digital ticket.”
Ruto likened the E-citizen innovation to M-Pesa, noting that it now collects approximately Sh2 billion daily on behalf of the government and provides transparent tracking of payments.
