Two weeks after President William Ruto issued a directive and a stern warning to 34 parastatal Chief Executive Officers over their failure to enlist on the eCitizen platform, a petition has now been filed in court seeking the order to be quashed.
Kituo cha Sheria, in its court papers filed at the High Court on Tuesday, December 10, now wants the court to issue orders declaring Ruto’s directive unlawful.
The lobby group argued that Ruto’s directive did not include public participation as per the provision of the Constitution.
The petitioner further stated in its court papers that members of the public who are unable to access government services by themselves will be exploited by third parties.
President William Ruto speaking during a townhall meeting on loans and job creation at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Monday, December 9, 2024.
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They further argued that Ruto acted beyond his powers by ordering the company CEOs to onboard the program within one week.
”Ruto’s directive and its implementation contravenes the law vesting the responsibility of proper management of the affairs of the entities in their respective boards, councils, or commissions,” read part of the court documents.
“The directive lacks transparency and the force law hence it undermines the rule of law,” it added.
The lobby consequently asked the High Court to restrain Ruto from taking any action on the parastatal chiefs, should they fail to adhere to the directive.
On November 28, this year, an agitated Ruto put on notice directors of key agencies within his government who he claimed have been undermining government efforts in the digitisation of government services.
The Head of State accused the officials of being involved in the likely provision of public funds, arguing there is no transparency in their dealings. Some of the companies named by the President include the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), and the country’s electricity distributor, Kenya Power Company (KPLC).
Speaking during the First Anniversary of the eCitizen Directorate, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, the President revealed that the 34 agencies were yet to comply with his Presidential directive on onboarding key services they offer on the eCitizen digital platform.
”These entities are yet to comply with my directive of onboarding government services in their departments on the platform,’’ Ruto stated.
Ruto consequently gave the agencies one week to comply with the directive or face the axe. ”They have one week to comply, otherwise, they can make use of the door,” Ruto warned.
The visibly agitated President listed all the 34 state agencies that were yet to comply with the directives, maintaining that they were promoting revenue loopholes.
President William Ruto addressing the media when he attended the High-Level Consultative Forum on the Review of Kenya’s Foreign Policy at Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi on November 20, 2024.
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