Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Kenyans.co.ke
Published on 2024-02-20 14:52:17
James Ayugi, the CEO of Webmasters Kenya Limited, recently disclosed that his company was paid Ksh7.6 million to program 10 services on the eCitizen platform. In an interview with Spice FM, Ayugi explained that the payment was for a pilot project aimed at digitizing and onboarding 10 National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) services to the eCitizen platform. He further clarified that the amount was equivalent to USD76,000 at the time.
The initial 10 services programmed onto the eCitizen platform were designed to streamline the process of applying for and renewing licenses. However, Ayugi admitted that their original intention was to prove the concept, and they were not aware that 10 services would be considered a small number, especially when it came to NTSA.
President William Ruto’s government retained Webmasters Kenya Limited to continue building and expanding the platform due to the additional add-ons required. Ayugi also revealed that it takes 15 add-ons to work together to facilitate the application for a driving license.
In an effort to improve the platform, Ayugi’s team started incorporating additional add-ons to demonstrate the concept to the government. When asked about their current contract with the government, Ayugi mentioned that they have an ongoing agreement and are compensated accordingly.
Despite Webmasters Kenya Limited owning the intellectual property rights of eCitizen, the platform is 100% owned by the government through licensing. Ayugi clarified that the government has the right to customize the software to their liking, using their licensed version.
Interestingly, it was Webmasters Kenya Limited that proposed the introduction of a convenience fee for Kenyans accessing services on the platform. This proposal was put forward to enhance the user experience and ensure the sustainability of the platform.
The eCitizen platform has garnered significant attention, with President William Ruto and his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, launching 5,000 digitized government services at the KICC on June 30, 2023. This further highlights the importance of digitizing government services and the role that eCitizen plays in achieving this goal.
Overall, the journey of eCitizen and the partnership between Webmasters Kenya Limited and the Kenyan government showcases the potential for private enterprises to drive technological innovation and efficiency in public service delivery. With ongoing developments and collaborations, it is evident that eCitizen will continue to play a crucial role in shaping the future of digital governance in Kenya.
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