Fresh details have now emerged on how a possible collusion led to the carting away of billions of shillings right under the nose of Kenya Revenue Authority and e-Citizen officials.
Acting on the case, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations has reportedly commenced interrogation of senior Treasury officials and directors of two firms implicated in the scandal.
Goldrock capital
Goldrock Capital limited managed to set up an M-Pesa pay bill — over which the Treasury had no control and started collecting money from Kenyans on behalf of the government.
It is not clear how the firm took over the role of the Kenya Revenue Authority by receiving billions of shillings from Kenyans without any approval from the Treasury.
A local daily reported that Treasury denied permitting the private firm to collect money on behalf of the government.
“I am aware that Goldrock Capital is not authorised by the National Treasury CS to collect revenue for and on behalf of the government,” Treasury PS Kamau Thugge mentioned.
The eCitizen is an online platform, through which the government provides essential services such as applications for passports, driving licenses, business registration, motor vehicle logbooks and title deeds.
The eCitizen portal was developed in 2013 with funding from the World Bank and other donors.
IT firm Webmasters Kenya was contracted to develop the portal, while Goldrock was subcontracted to develop a non-cash payment system for the project.