The Principal Secretary for the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services, Julius Bitok, has revealed that the government generates almost Ksh1 billion from the e-Citizen service daily.

Bitok had been put on task to explain how well the service was working when he appeared before the National Assembly Committee on Administration and Internal Security for a review of Supplementary Estimates II for the 2024/2025 Financial Year on Friday.

However, he did not provide a clear number and revealed that the revenue fluctuates, providing a range between Ksh700 million and Ksh900 million daily.

He further clarified that this amount, which amounted to approximately Ksh24 billion annually, was remitted directly to the National Treasury in its entirety.

Immigration Ps Julius Bitok speaks on Maisha number at the launch event.

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Bitok then called on the Treasury to allocate an extra Ksh300 million to revamp the system, noting that this would help in enhancing its usability and productivity.

These would include the maintenance of the e-passport system, acquisition of a national digital ID, production of third-generation ID cards, and modernisation of the Integrated Population Registration System (IPRS), among others.

During the meeting, it was also revealed that Ksh497.5 million had been provided to the state department on December 16, 2024, but had not been reflected in Supplementary Estimates II for the 2024/25 financial year.

In addition to the Ksh300 million, Bitok sought an extra Ksh100 million to the current Ksh111.48 million allocated to cover repatriation efforts.

The PS noted that cases of immigrants entering the country unlawfully were gradually becoming a problem in the country and that more funding was needed to address it. 

“Immigrants have become a growing challenge in this country, with an increasing number of court orders issued for repatriation. The State Department incurs significant expenses on both local and foreign travel for repatriation, which cannot be covered within the current allocation of Ksh. 111.48 million,” he stated.

This comes just days after Labour and Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua announced plans to start deporting these unlawful immigrants living on the streets to curb homelessness.

"We are undertaking a census. We are just waiting for budgetary allocation so that we can have a breakdown not only of (identifying) which ones are Kenyans and those who are not but also where they come from in Kenya," Mutua said.

During the committee meeting, the chair, Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo, announced the conclusion of its review of Supplementary Estimates II for the 2024/2025 financial year.

Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua engaging youths at Bomas of Kenya, January 17, 2025.

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Mutua