Speaking during the First Anniversary of the eCitizen Directorate at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi on Wednesday, the President disclosed that this initiative aligns with reducing burdens faced by groups when accessing their funds from the government.
Ruto stated that the payment process for vulnerable groups, including the elderly, orphans, and individuals with disabilities, will commence tomorrow.
“I am very pleased that starting tomorrow, we will pilot cash transfers through eCitizen. They will no longer need to queue in banks and travel long distances,” Ruto stated.
According to Ruto, the government decided to utilize digital platforms for cash transfers, fulfilling a commitment he made prior to the 2022 General Election.
“I made two pledges during the last elections to ensure these vulnerable citizens, the elderly, orphans, and people with disabilities, receive payments alongside public servant salaries,” Ruto remarked.
Additionally, Ruto noted that the government had addressed prior challenges, including the lengthy wait times experienced by vulnerable groups before they received their transfers.
“I am very pleased that we now pay them at the same time as our salaries, so they do not have to wait for 6 to 8 months,” he added.
Consequently, the President announced that his administration is already planning to integrate all government services onto the eCitizen platform.
Ruto indicated that this decision was motivated by the need to eliminate travel difficulties that some service beneficiaries faced when accessing banks.
“It is my commitment that, hopefully in the next couple of months, every government service will be available on the digital platform so that every citizen can experience efficiency, eliminating physical challenges, extensive travel, and long queues,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ruto mentioned that to date, the government has successfully enrolled nearly 2 million Kenyans in the cash transfer program, with plans to increase the numbers further.
