Governors Urges Govt to Suspend eCitizen School Fee Payments Directive
The chairperson of the Council of Governors (COG) Education Committee, Eric Mutai, who also serves as the Kericho governor, has urged the government to halt the directive regarding school fee payments via eCitizen until clear guidelines are established.
Mutai made this call on February 6, stressing the need for comprehensive structures to guide parents and teachers amid the ongoing school reopening.
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Mutai expressed concerns about potential confusion and questioned the organization behind the directive, emphasizing the importance of raising awareness among the public.
He suggested that the Principal Secretary for Education, Belio Kipsang, should proactively disseminate information to prevent negative perceptions among Kenyans.
Emphasizing the need for improved structures, Mutai criticized the timing of the directive, given that schools were already operational.
He stressed the necessity for the government to clarify the directive through eCitizen profiling, ensuring parents understand the rationale behind the changes and providing assistance to those facing difficulties in fee payment.
ALSO READ: Govt to Expand eCitizen School Fee Payments to Extra County and County Schools
While acknowledging past challenges with similar directives, particularly regarding tourist payments via eCitizen, Mutai commended the objective of consolidating government revenue for transparency and effective planning.
The directive, issued by the Principal Secretary of Education on January 31, mandates national schools to use the eCitizen platform for fee payments, starting with the government’s designated pay bill number, 222222. Headteachers were instructed to provide bank account details for assessment prior to implementation.
Furthermore, plans to extend the payment system to more schools nationwide were announced by Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok on February 5.
Bitok clarified that the rollout would occur in phases, beginning with national schools and later expanding to extra county and county schools.
Meanwhile, a petition challenging the legality of the directive and other orders requiring government service payments via eCitizen was filed by a Nakuru doctor.
ALSO READ: Ministry of Education Orders National School Parents to Use eCitizen Platform for Fee Payments
Dr. Magare Gikenyi, a Consultant Trauma and General Surgeon employed by the Nakuru county government, argued that the directives lacked legality and public participation, particularly objecting to the Ksh50 convenience fee imposed on the platform.
Governors Urges Govt to Suspend eCitizen School Fee Payments Directive
