The Kenya government has introduced the Digital Payments Platform, which is based on eCitizen. This payment channel will see Kenyans pay for all government services via digital means.
According to a gazette notice, the new service has been integrated with all available electronic payment platforms in Kenya, including mobile money services such as M-PESA, T-Kash, and Airtel Money.
Details
First and foremost, eCitizen is owned by the Government of Kenya. It is accessed at ecitizen.go.ke, which has now become the official Government Digital Payments platform.
This means that all government services shall be made through eCitizen.
The unique identifier for people using the platform is their national ID cards. Foreigners will use their foreign IDs.
Companies, institutions, and organizations will use their official registration number.
The official Kenya Government Pay Bill number is 222222.
The official Government of Kenya short code number is 222.
Lastly, the official Government of Kenya USSD number is 2222.
Kenyans can look for services they can pay using this link.
Paybill charges
Operator Safaricom has since revised its paybill charges, effective 1st January 2023. They have been brought down substantially and are a welcome move for locals. Bank to mobile money charges have also been brought back.
Here are the new charges:
Max band (KES) | Min band (KSH) | Current tariff (KES) | New tariff (KES) |
1 | 100 | 0 | 0 |
101 | 500 | 23 | 4 |
501 | 1,000 | 23 | 9 |
1,001 | 1,500 | 35 | 14 |
1,501 | 2,500 | 35 | 19 |
2,501 | 3,500 | 56 | 24 |
3,501 | 5,000 | 56 | 33 |
5,001 | 7,500 | 85 | 40 |
7,501 | 10,000 | 85 | 46 |
10,001 | 15,000 | 113 | 55 |
15,001 | 20,000 | 113 | 60 |
20,001 | 25,000 | 113 | 65 |
25,001 | 30,000 | 113 | 78 |
30,001 | 35,000 | 113 | 87 |
35,001 | 40,000 | 202 | 96 |
40,001 | 45,000 | 202 | 105 |
45,001 | 50,000 | 202 | 105 |
50,001 | 150,000 | 210 | 105 |