Cabinet Secretary (CS) for public service, performance and delivery management Moses Kuria has made a U-turn on his earlier statement that Kenyans will have to part with some cash to receive services at Huduma centres.
In a clip in the Star’s possession, the CS was on record speaking during the official takeover of the state Department of Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management asserting that they will introduce a fee for services being offered at Huduma centres.
”You have been enjoying these services without paying, there is no more free lunch. You have to pay for it, we will introduce a fee for service for government service and private service to support our e-commerce because huduma Centre will be the backbone for e-commerce,” Kuria said.
Kuria said the fee-for-service will enable the 52 huduma Centers across the country to generate revenue and ease the pressure on the exchequer.
However, hours later, the CS denounced the statement and termed it as a misrepresentation of what he meant.
”As usual, the media is misrepresenting what I said about huduma Centers, the Public is already paying government departments for services offered through huduma centers but those departments do not pay huduma centers for distributing their services to the public,’’ Kuria stated while denying the earlier sentiment.
”Such departments are the ones to pay fees for service, not the public, but it would be a dull day for the media if they do not misrepresent me.”
Speaking during the takeover, Kuria also revealed government plans to widen the scope of service delivery through business partnerships with the different private sectors.
“This is one of the areas 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.
By Star