Auditor General Nancy Gathungu's report flags disparities in KSh 15.5b eCitizen revenue statements

President William Ruto's administration is on the spot for over KSh 15 billion collected under the Gava Mkonini platform.

Auditor General Nancy Gathungu speaking at a past Budget and Appropriation Committee event. Photo: Ndindi Nyoro. Source: Twitter

Details in Auditor General Nancy Gathungu's report flagged variances in the receipt of revenue collected via the eCitizen.

How much eCitizen revenue was flagged

The report for the year ending June 30, 2023, showed that KSh 15.5 billion was collected during the financial year 2022/23, but receivers of the revenue could not be confirmed.

"The statement of revenue collections and transfers reflects an amount of KSh 15,570,013,245 in respect of receivers of revenue receipts as disclosed in Note 1 to the revenue statements.

"In the circumstances, the completeness and accuracy of the receivers of revenue receipts amounting to KSh 15,570,013,245 could not be confirmed," read the report in part.

The report also pointed out discrepancies in the e-portal system and the ledger.

Which public entities had eCitizen revenue variance?

According to the report, the variances occurred in Business Registration Services, the Ministry of Mining, the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, the Civil Registration Department, the Immigration Department, the State Law Office, and the Department of Justice.

Others are the Kenya Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

In February 2024, Gathungu highlighted the government's limited control over the eCitizen portal.

Gathungu's audit report revealed significant reliance on the vendor for critical functions, hindering the government's ability to make necessary system configurations and changes.

The Auditor-General identified risks within the e-Citizen platform, including revenue leakage, compromised accountability, system downtime, and security vulnerabilities.