Kenyans are set to pay fees to access government services across all Huduma Centers if the State Department of Public Service, Performance, and Delivery Management plans see the light of day.
Speaking during his takeover, Public Service, Performance, and Delivery Management Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria asserted that the fee-for-service move for government service will enable the 52 Huduma Centers nationwide to generate revenue and ease the pressure on the exchequer.
“You have been enjoying these services without paying, there is no more free lunch. You have to pay for it, we will introduce fee for service for government service and private service to support our e-commerce because Huduma Centre will be backbone for e-commerce,” said Kuria.
Renewal of driver's licenses, extra copies of national identification cards, and National Social Security Fund (NSSF) contributions are some of the fee-based services available at Huduma centers.
HELB - Student Loan Application and Repayments, Registration of Welfare Groups, Issuance of Police Abstracts, Single Business Permit, Stamp Duty Assessment, and National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) Registration and Claims are a few more.
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Kuria mentioned that this will be among his first undertakings after consulting with the government's consumer department, including the immigration department.
Kuria revealed government plans to widen the scope of service delivery through business partnerships with the different private sectors.
“Clearly,this is one of the area that the public sector has outshined the private sector.The President has challenged us on sustainability and not trusting on the exchequer and this is one the areas where we will cut dependence on the exchequer,” he stated.
The government intends to increase Huduma Centers nationwide by revamping the postal corporation centers into the government services bureaus.
Currently, there are only 52 Huduma centres across the country that aim to turn the 893 post offices into Huduma centres to enhance service delivery and revenue generation.