The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has restored the eCitizen platform, bringing relief to thousands of Kenyans and tourists who had been left stranded while trying to access crucial government services.
In a statement issued earlier today, KRA confirmed the restoration of the platform, which facilitates digital payments for government services, including visa applications and park entry fees.
“We are pleased to announce that the eCitizen Payment Service has been restored. We thank you for your patience during this period,” read a statement from KRA.
The outage, which began earlier this week, caused widespread disruptions. Kenyans who rely on the platform for critical transactions, such as business registration and license renewals, were forced to seek alternative payment methods. Tourists were also affected, with many unable to access national parks due to failed payments.
The eCitizen Payment Service has been restored. We thank you for your patience. https://t.co/UalnYhak4c pic.twitter.com/zKue0OPMy5
— Kenya Revenue Authority (@KRACorporate) January 3, 2025
Tourists and Citizens Bear the Brunt
The outage coincided with increased tourist activity, leaving visitors waiting for hours at park entry points.
Long queues of vehicles and frustrated visitors were seen at several national park gates, with many taking to social media to express their grievances.
“I had planned this trip for months, but we spent hours at the gate due to the payment issues,” lamented one tourist on X (formerly Twitter).
The platform’s unavailability also disrupted other essential government services, further fueling public frustration.
KRA’s Apology and Contingency Measures
KRA Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga expressed regret for the inconvenience caused and assured the public of the authority’s commitment to resolving technical issues promptly.
“To ensure payments were processed without delay during the downtime, we advised stakeholders to use alternative methods, including accredited bank accounts and PDQs,” KRA stated.
The taxman further revealed that a technical team had been working round the clock to resolve the issue, highlighting the importance of the eCitizen platform in streamlining access to government services.
Lessons for Digital Transformation
The outage has sparked debate about the reliability of Kenya’s digital payment systems, particularly as the government continues to mandate eCitizen as the primary channel for transactions. Stakeholders are calling for enhanced infrastructure and backup systems to prevent future disruptions.
Also Read: KRA Surpasses Sh1 Trillion Revenue Mark in 5 Months
While the platform’s restoration is a relief, many Kenyans are urging the government to strengthen digital service resilience to avoid similar incidents in the future.
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