Speaking during a public address today, President Ruto expressed frustration over the ongoing resistance, stating that certain institutions prefer the old system of issuing handwritten receipts on exercise books to evade accountability.
"Some headteachers have taken us to court because they do not want parents to pay school fees through E-Citizen. They want to continue writing receipts on pieces of exercise books," Ruto said
The remarks come amid a long-running battle over the digitization of school fee payments. The government has championed E-Citizen as a tool for transparency, aiming to curb extra levies, ghost students, and mismanagement of capitation funds.
Ruto stated that his administration is committed to ending cash transactions in public institutions to promote openness. "We do not want to deal in cash in this administration; we want transparency," he added.
However, the directive has faced significant legal hurdles. The High Court, in a ruling by Justice Chacha Mwita, previously declared the mandatory use of the E-Citizen platform for school fees unconstitutional, citing lack of public participation and concerns over the KSh 50 transaction fee, which was described as discriminatory and without legal basis.
The Court of Appeal has upheld aspects of this decision, dealing a blow to the government's efforts.
Despite the court setbacks, the President remains defiant, vowing to engage directly with resistant school heads and enforce greater accountability.
Education stakeholders, including headteachers' associations, argue that the platform adds unnecessary costs to parents already struggling with economic pressures and that capitation funds from the government remain inadequate and delayed.
Ruto has repeatedly assured parents that no child should be sent home over fee issues, noting that the government has disbursed significant capitation, including KSh 15,000 per learner in some categories. He warned against illegal extra charges, directing action against non-compliant school managers.
Allan Malonza, an education expert and consultant. He has stated that President Ruto is losing his tongue. And the act of him imposing things without figuring out or consulting people. It might end up costing him.
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