The High Court has temporarily suspended President William Ruto’s directive that required 34 government entities to fully integrate their services with the e-Citizen platform within a week.
Justice Bahati Mwamuye issued the ruling, also blocking the removal of the CEOs of the affected institutions for failing to comply with the directive.
“Pending the inter parties hearing and determination of the Application a conservatory order is hereby issued prohibiting the removal from office of the 34 CEOs listed as Interested Parties herein or the initiation or continuation of any disciplinary action against them based on the grounds of their failure to implement and/or operationalize the directive issued on November 28,2024 with respect to them being directed to compulsorily onboard and/or migrate to the eCitizen Services Platform, ” Justice Mwamuye ordered.
The ruling follows a petition filed by Kituo Cha Sheria, a legal aid organization, and a citizen, Hillary Mokaya, who argue that the directive is unconstitutional.
The petitioners claim that President Ruto’s order was made without public participation and lacks a legal framework to support it.
They further argue that the directive usurps powers that belong to the boards, councils, and commissions overseeing these entities.
The court directed Kituo Cha Sheria to serve the application on the Attorney General, the Cabinet Secretary for Treasury, and the Principal Secretary for Immigration, who are the respondents in the case. A hearing for submissions is scheduled for January 31, 2024.
On November 28, 2023, President Ruto issued the directive, mandating that the Chief Executive Officers of various government institutions must integrate their services with the e-Citizen platform within one week.
The e-Citizen platform is intended to streamline government services and reduce corruption. However, the affected entities, which include Kenya Power, the Tana Athi Water Works Development Agency, and several banks, have criticized the directive for being issued with an unreasonably short deadline and without sufficient legislative backing.
In his televised speech, President Ruto defended the e-Citizen integration, stating that the use of alternative payment methods bypassing the platform undermines accountability and fosters corruption.
Despite the support for the initiative, the petitioners argue that such sweeping changes should have followed a proper legislative process and been subject to public consultation, as required by the Constitution.
