NAIROBI, Kenya, May 7 – eCitizen payments below Sh100 could become free if Parliament approves new regulations proposed by the National Treasury.
Under the proposed Public Finance Management (E-Citizen System Management) Regulations, 2026, Kenyans and foreigners making payments below Sh100 for government services through the platform would not incur any convenience fees.
However, transactions above Sh100 would attract convenience charges of up to Sh100 depending on the amount paid. Payments between Sh100 and Sh499 would attract a Sh5 fee, while transactions exceeding Sh100,000 would incur the maximum Sh100 charge. Payments in foreign currencies would attract a $1 fee.
“The convenience fee shall not be charged for any services in the System that are offered free of charge,” the draft regulations state.
“All Government-to-Government transactions on the System shall be free of charge.”
The proposed regulations also seek to formally establish the eCitizen System as the official government digital payment platform under the National Treasury for the collection and settlement of revenues for national and county government services.
The framework proposes the creation of a Steering Committee chaired by the National Treasury and comprising key officials, including the Finance Principal Secretary, the PS in charge of eCitizen services, the Solicitor General, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Council of Governors.
The committee would oversee implementation and regulation of digital payment processes through the eCitizen platform, approve payment channels and bank accounts, and monitor service delivery across national and county governments.
“The National Treasury shall ensure that the System is subjected to regular audits to ensure compliance with the relevant legal and regulatory requirements,” the regulations state.
The system will also be required to maintain audit trails documenting access, changes, and processing of electronic records to enhance transparency and accountability.
Additionally, periodic audit reports generated by the system will be reviewed by a Technical Committee to identify and resolve operational issues and discrepancies.
The proposed regulations come after the Court of Appeal upheld a High Court ruling declaring mandatory school fee payments through eCitizen unconstitutional due to lack of public participation and illegal imposition of Sh50 convenience charges.
