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Kenya: iTax, eCitizen and government digital payments

Last checked: 20 October 2026 · Countries

Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) runs iTax, an online portal for PIN registration, tax returns and certificate checks 1,2. Fees for other government services are paid through eCitizen, which lists over 5,000 services 3. eCitizen was built under an agreement between the ICT Authority and a consortium led by Webmasters Kenya Limited 4. A special audit by the Auditor-General, discussed in Parliament in August 2025, questioned payments, bank accounts and a flat KSh 50 convenience fee 4. The National Treasury defended the system 5.
Tax portal
KRA iTax 2
Government services portal
eCitizen, over 5,000 services from over 100 ministries, counties, departments and agencies 3
eCitizen contract parties
ICT Authority and Webmasters Kenya Limited, with Pesaflow Limited and Olive Tree Media Limited 4
Convenience fee charged
Flat KSh 50 per transaction 4
eCitizen revenue (Treasury)
KSh 20 billion in 2022/23 to KSh 163 billion in 2024/25, as reported by The Star 5
Audit body
Office of the Auditor-General, Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu 5

KRA iTax

iTax is the KRA online service area. Users sign in with a PIN or User ID. The portal offers new PIN registration and public checkers for PINs, tax compliance certificates, excise licences and withholding certificates 2.

The KRA website links to iTax under its online services and has a File Returns page with video tutorials for income tax and nil returns 1. KRA lists its contact centre at +254 20 4 999 999 and [email protected] 1.

eCitizen and the Government Digital Payment Unit

eCitizen describes itself as a single point of access for Government of Kenya services. Users register with an ID number, get one login, and can search, apply for, track and pay for services online 3.

The Auditor-General's report names the National Treasury, the Government Digital Payment Unit and the ICT Authority as the government units involved, as reported by The Star on 6 August 2025 4. Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo said the government does not own the payment gateway and uses it as a paid service 5.

Who built and operates eCitizen

According to the audit as reported by The Star, the agreement was between the ICT Authority and Webmasters Kenya Limited, in consortium with Pesaflow Limited and Olive Tree Media Limited 4. Payments went to Electronic Citizen Solution Ltd, which the audit said was not party to the agreement 4.

Chris Kiptoo said the vendor agreed to "completely and unconditionally hand over the platform" and that the government controls the system 5. He said procurement was proper and the system has been in place since 2017 5.

Auditor-General findings

Deputy Auditor-General Isaac Nganga presented the special audit to the National Assembly Public Accounts Committee, which summoned Treasury and ICT principal secretaries, as reported by The Star on 6 August 2025 4. The main findings as reported are listed below 4.

  • Close to KSh 9 billion of public money was at risk 4.
  • KSh 6.2 billion in receipts went to a "Pesaflow" account at Equity Bank that was not an approved collection account 4.
  • KSh 545.6 million was paid to Electronic Citizen Solution Ltd for support and maintenance 4.
  • KSh 195.6 million for payment gateway services was judged irregular 4.
  • Four transfers totalling KSh 127,850,950 on 25 January 2024 went to private entities without supporting documents 4.

What changed for payers: the convenience fee

A 2014 Gazette Notice set the convenience fee as a percentage of the amount paid. The auditor found that no prorating band was set up and a flat KSh 50 was charged per transaction 4. From 14 December 2023 the fee should have been prorated under Gazette Notice No. 17422, the auditor said 4.

Reported figures differ. The Star reported on 6 August 2025 that KSh 2.2 billion in convenience fees was irregularly collected 4. The Star reported on 12 September 2025 that the system over-collected about KSh 1.8 billion 5. Chris Kiptoo said "It is true that there was a delay in implementing the revised fees" 5.

Mobile money context

An IMF working paper on fintech payments in public finance reports that mobile money made up 85 percent of non-cash payment transactions in Kenya in 2019 but only 10 percent of national payment value, citing the Central Bank of Kenya 6.

Common questions

How do I pay KRA taxes online?

File and manage taxes through the KRA iTax portal, which handles PIN registration, returns and certificate checks 2.

Who owns eCitizen?

The Treasury says the vendor handed over the platform and the government controls it, but does not own the payment gateway 5.

How much is the eCitizen convenience fee?

The audit found a flat KSh 50 was charged per transaction instead of a prorated fee 4.

What did the Auditor-General find about eCitizen?

The audit flagged close to KSh 9 billion at risk, an unapproved collection account and irregular payments, as reported by The Star 4.

How much revenue does eCitizen collect?

Treasury PS Chris Kiptoo said revenue rose from KSh 20 billion in 2022/23 to KSh 163 billion in 2024/25 5.

Rules and fees change. Check the official site linked above before you apply or pay. Spotted an error? Email [email protected] with the official link.

Sources

  1. Kenya Revenue Authority: official website
  2. Kenya Revenue Authority: iTax online service area
  3. Government of Kenya: eCitizen
  4. The Star, Luke Awich: Two PSs summoned after audit exposes multi-billion rot in e-Citizen (6 August 2025)
  5. The Star, Moses Ogada: Treasury PS defends e-Citizen payments as audit storm rages (12 September 2025)
  6. IMF: Fintech Payments in Public Financial Management, Benefits and Risks, Working Paper WP/23/20 (2023)

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