Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Kenyans.co.ke
Published on 2024-02-21 17:56:05
Auditor General Nancy Gathungu has raised concerns about the plan by President William Ruto to digitize all government services and integrate them on the eCitizen platform. In the 2022/2023 report on the National Government, Gathungu highlighted flaws in the plan that could potentially hinder service delivery and jeopardize the security of government data.
One of the key concerns brought to light by Gathungu is the over-reliance on the consultant who developed the eCitizen platform. The government lacks full control of the system and relies heavily on the vendor for crucial functions. This lack of control exposes the government to various risks including revenue leakage, lack of accountability, system unavailability, security vulnerabilities, and threats. It also hinders the Government Digital Payments Unit (GDPU) from executing vital system configurations and implementing changes essential for fostering growth, such as onboarding new government services.
Furthermore, Gathungu noted that settlements for payments to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) were carried out manually by the GDPU’s accountant two days a week. Manual reconciliation introduced risks of human errors and delays in the transfer of payments, which could affect the efficiency of the digital platform in the future. Gathungu urged the management to ensure that reconciliation and settlement of payments were done in real-time to mitigate these risks.
The Auditor General also highlighted the absence of a consultancy agreement between the National Treasury and the vendor, making it impossible to establish the terms of consultancy and the respective responsibilities of each party in managing the platform and its system. Additionally, the GDPU did not have an approved IT Policy for governance and management of the system’s ICT resources, and there was no ICT Steering Committee in place to assist in the development of an ICT Policy Framework.
Moreover, the eCitizen platform lacks an approved Business Continuity Plan and a secondary backup site, which could pose a significant risk to the government’s data and service delivery. These flaws have the potential to affect the efficiency of the digital platform, especially as President Ruto envisions it to have over 5,000 government services in a move to consolidate government operations.
In response to these concerns, Gathungu revealed that her office was conducting a special audit on the eCitizen platform to provide highlights on the credibility and reliability of the platform. The special audit will interrogate both IT and physical security, governance arrangements, and the adequacy of the control in place. This audit is of strategic importance due to the reliance of the government on eCitizen in its financial architecture.
In conclusion, Auditor General Nancy Gathungu’s report has shed light on significant flaws in President William Ruto’s plan to digitize government services and integrate them on the eCitizen platform. These flaws not only pose risks to the security and reliability of the platform but also have the potential to hinder government service delivery. It is imperative for the government to address these concerns and take corrective action to ensure the successful implementation of the eCitizen platform.
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