The Ministry of Education has directed all parents or guardians whose learners are in national schools to make payments through the eCitizen platform.
This is in line with the government's directive to consolidate all platforms through the pay bill number 222222.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, a top-ranking official at the Ministry confirmed the directive and highlighted that it will only affect national schools in the meantime.
The government will then assess the pilot project, and assess gaps and other improvement areas before other schools are onboarded.
In a circular sent to all principals of national schools, Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang instructed them to provide the details of the institution's bank account details to facilitate the onboarding process.
"The directorate of e-Citizen in partnership with the Information Communication Technology Authority (ICTA), Ministry of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy and the National Treasury have been coordinating the onboarding of all government services onto the eCitizen platform to enhance service delivery," the circular read in part.
"As part of compliance with the requirements it is directed that parents/guardians make fee payments for their learners in your institutions through this platform."
Principals were asked to submit key finance information to the office of the Director General, State Department for Basic Education before February 6, 2024.
Among the information needed were the details of all bank accounts managed by schools in the following format.
ACCOUNT NAME:
BANK:
ACCOUNT NUMBER:
BANK CODE:
BRANCH CODE:
The government will advise parents on how to pay for school fees once all bank account details are collected.
"Please ensure that the aforementioned information is submitted to the Office of the Director General, State Department for Basic Education not later than February 6, 2024, on email dg@education.go.ke and copy to sa.basic@education.go.ke."
This is aimed at increasing the number of new users who sign up to eCitizen in addition to the existing 11 million who utilise the service daily.
In June 2023, President William Ruto directed all pay bills to be consolidated to reduce graft tendencies fostered by physical interactions in government offices.
