Canada-based Kenyan lawyer Miguna Miguna has faulted the government for introducing new charges for the eCitizen platform transactions.
Miguna says that the new charges, issued by Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u, are punitive to Kenyans.
“I oppose! Public/Government websites are like public offices that Kenyans already pay for with their taxes,” the outspoken lawyer says.
He adds that the charges constitute to double taxation of Kenyans. “Charging citizens to access government/public websites and offices constitutes double taxation, which is illegal.”
New eCitizen charges
In a gazette notice dated Deceber 14, 2023, CS Njuguna said the eCitizen.go.ke will charge a nominal administrative fee per transaction.
The charges are pro-rated as follows;
Kenyans making payments of below KSh199 will be charged a cost of KSh5.
If you are making payments of between KSh200 and KSh299, you will be charged KSh10.
Payments of between KSh300 and KSh499 will now cost you KSh15 on the eCitizen platform.
If the payment made ranges between KSh500 and KSh699, you will pay a charge rate of KSh20. Payments ranging between KSh700 and KSh999 will come with a charge of KSh25.
Any payment made above KSh1000 will cost you KSh50.
For any US dollar, one will be charged $1, with CS Njuguna saying the changes take effect immediately.
