CS for Treasury John Mbandi…Photo/File
By Godfrey Wamalwa
NAIROBI, Kenya (IP)
Barely a day after the government celebrated a 4.6% economic growth rate in the latest Economic Survey, Kenyans woke up to another reminder that while the economy may be jogging ahead, many wallets are still crawling behind.
The National Treasury has proposed a new fee structure for services on the eCitizen platform that could see convenience charges rise to as much as KSh100, adding yet another layer of cost to accessing government services.
Under the proposed Public Finance Management (e-Citizen System Management) Regulations, 2026, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi wants to replace the current flat KSh50 fee with a tiered system tied to the value of the service being sought.
Services above KSh100,000 will attract a KSh100 convenience fee, while transactions between KSh10,000 and KSh99,999 will cost users KSh70. Lower-value services will attract charges ranging from KSh5 to KSh50.
In government mathematics, apparently, economic growth means citizens are now financially fit enough to pay extra for the privilege of paying for government services online.
The proposed charges will affect thousands of services on the eCitizen platform, including passport applications, business registrations, birth certificate corrections and driving licence renewals — because nothing says “digital transformation” quite like paying a convenience fee for your inconvenience.
Treasury officials say the charges are necessary to maintain the platform and support delivery of over 30,000 government services online.
Critics, however, argue the government has perfected the art of discovering new taxes with the determination of archaeologists unearthing ancient treasure.
The fee proposal comes as Kenyans continue struggling with high food prices, fuel costs and increased household expenses despite official statistics showing economic expansion.
On Wednesday, the government highlighted the country’s 4.6% economic growth in the Economic Survey, presenting it as evidence of resilience and recovery.
For many citizens, however, the figure felt more like a motivational quote than a lived reality.
Across the country a resident of Mathira in Central Kenya joked that “the economy must be growing in a secret location inaccessible to ordinary wananchi”,while William Barasa from Webuye in Bungoma county sarcastically suggested that “the next government service could come with a “breathing maintenance fee.”
The controversy surrounding eCitizen fees is not new.
Courts previously questioned the legality of the KSh50 convenience charge, arguing citizens were effectively being taxed twice for the same service.
Government officials continue defending eCitizen as a successful digital reform that has boosted efficiency and revenue collection.
For many Kenyans, every click on the platform increasingly feels less like digital convenience and more like entering a supermarket without price tags — the total only shocks you at checkout.
The draft regulations are currently undergoing public participation before implementation.
