Maraga demands resignation of public officials over eCitizen audit scandal

In a March 2025 audit report for eCitizen's operations in the financial year ending June 30, 2024, Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu highlighted over Ksh.9.6 billion in questionable transactions involving government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).

In a statement on Thursday, Maraga explained that the public will not relent in calling for accountability among public officers. 

He demanded that the government make public all the accounts in local and foreign banks that were used to siphon public money, and the holders of these accounts be publicly named and prosecuted according to the law.

"The Auditor General's audit report on eCitizen clearly shows a regime that will not just steal; it does so with arrogance and impunity. The endless greed of those entrusted to lead is exhausting to a burdened nation," the statement read in part. 

"A nation burdened by leaders who confuse power for entitlement, who treat public office as a personal inheritance, and public money as an extension of their disposable income."

He pointed out that the country is burdened by a tough economy and mismanagement of public funds by corrupt individuals.

Maraga, who served as Chief Justice for four years, pointed out that such activities weaken the economy and lock out Kenyans from accessing opportunities. 

"The government must know that, unlike in the past, where more corruption desensitized the citizenry, Kenyans will not relent in their pursuit of accountability and good governance," he added. 

In the audit report, the AG pointed out inconsistencies in how collections are reported and settled on the eCitizen platform. 

For instance, the Government Digital Payments (GDP) Unit recorded Ksh. 2.24 billion due for settlement to the Tourism Fund, Gathungu said that only Ksh.1.72 billion was collected, leaving a discrepancy of Ksh.515 million.

“This discrepancy highlights inadequacies in the eCitizen reporting module, raising concerns about the reliability and accuracy of the settlement reports generated by the system… [It]  implies that not all revenue collected is remitted to MDAs and Counties which negatively affect service delivery,” Gathungu stated.

The AG also raised concerns that the systemic weaknesses in the digital payment platform likely affect public services.

With funds either delayed, misallocated, or unaccounted for, Gathungu pointed out that MDAs and county governments may find themselves unable to deliver essential services to citizens. 

The operations of the eCitizen platform have been under scrutiny in the past, with the public calling for transparency in the State's activities. 

Webmasters Kenya Limited developed the platform in 2014, with then-President Uhuru Kenyatta's regime adopting it as part of the push to digitise government services. 

Under President William Ruto, the platform has since expanded to be the main gateway for over 22,000 services by agencies like the National Transport and Safety Authority, Kenya Revenue Authority, and the National Registration Bureau.