Nairobi, Kenya – The High Court has ruled against President William Ruto’s directive to parents to channel all school fee payments through the e-Citizen platform.
Justice Chacha Mwita of Milimani Law Courts made the ruling on Wednesday, February 7, following a petition which was filed by Magare Gikenyi, a Nakuru doctor on Tuesday.
The letter which was issued by Belio Kipsang, Education Principal Secretary, to all National school principals was also suspended.
“An interim conservatory order is hereby issued suspending the circular or letter by the Principal Secretary (Belio R Kipsang), Ministry of Education dated 31st January 2024, requiring parents/guardians and or students to pay fees and any other levies for all government learning institutions through e-citizen platform or any other digital platform(s) until 13th February 2024, when the court will issue further directions in this petition,” Justice Chacha ruled.
Kisunzi Cha E- Citizen:
Mahakama yasitisha kwa muda agizo la serikali
Serikali iliagiza karo kulipwa kupitia E-Citizen
Rais Ruto asema mpango wa malipo kidijitali utaafikiwa
Rais asema mpango huo utapunguza ufisadi#CitizenNipashe @RashidAbdalla pic.twitter.com/5VxIucEH5x
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) February 7, 2024
PS Kipsang’s memo to national schools required principals to to share the school bank account details with the State Department’s General latest February 6, 2024.
The PS observed that the new convention is a friend to efficient service delivery, therefore there was a need to embrace it.
Why High Court stopped e-Citizen school payment
The complainant, Dr Magare perceived this government’s initiative in the bad school management lens, saying not only it is illegal but also reductant of school principles.
He said that the new style would subject those parents in rural areas to a traumatic deal, especially to those who exploit other methods to pay fees like taking maize, beans, firewood or any other nonmonetary means.
However, President Ruto has remained firm on his stance on school fee payment via e-Citizen despite the High Court pronouncement.
Ruto’s vows to stick to e-Citizen school fee payment
The head of state said the use of an e-Citizen platform for school fee payment is non-negotiable.
Speaking on Wednesday, February 7, in Tokyo Japan to the Kenyan diaspora, he said that the use of e-Citizen is one of the tools the government must leverage to eradicate corruption.
The President acknowledged the presence of individuals who are not immune to the fight against corruption.
“Cash payments are prone to abuse and we want to reduce and eventually end them. The payment of school fees through e-citizen won’t be stopped since it will help to eliminate the payment of extra levies by some schools, ” President Ruto said in Japan
President @williamsruto while addressing the Kenyan diaspora in Japan:
Technology and digitization key to eradicating corruption, especially in school fees payments through E-citizen. pic.twitter.com/6NE5Na358l
— Hussein Mohamed, MBS. (@HusseinMohamedg) February 7, 2024
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