Image: The-Star
Given that the government now intends to impose a price for services at Huduma clinics, Kenyans may soon need to dig even further into their wallets.
Moses Kuria, the cabinet secretary for public service, performance, and delivery management, stated on Monday that the fee will be used to support the operation of 52 Huduma facilities across the nation.
Kuria continued by stating that by charging fees, Huduma clinics will be able to produce their own income, relieving pressure on the exchequer.
" For so long you(Kenyans) have been enjoying these services without paying. Now there is no more free lunch, you have to pay for it. We will introduce a fee for government service to support our e-commerce because Huduma Centre will be the backbone for e-commerce,” he said.
Kuria was speaking as Gender CS Aisha Jumwa officially relinquished control of the State Department of Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management.
Prior to President William Ruto's recent Cabinet change, the CS had been working in the Trade docket for 11 months. He was then transferred to the Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management ministry.
The National Social Security Fund (NSSF), duplicate national identity cards, and driver's licence renewal are a some of the services offered in Huduma centres that will cost money.
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.
The Huduma Kenya programme was developed to make it easier to deliver a variety of government services in a single location known as a Huduma Centre.
Huduma Kenya consolidates multiple linked public services in one location, possibly on the same floor, in order to make them more accessible to Kenyans.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta and then-Deputy William Ruto officially opened the inaugural Huduma Centre Nairobi in 2013 at the Teleposta Building in Nairobi.
