Huduma Kenya has clarified the Ksh150 fee for services at cyber cafés within Huduma Centres, following concerns about the extra costs Kenyans incur.
According to Huduma Kenya, the charge covers assisted tasks such as scanning, printing, and other online applications, as well as a convenience fee through the eCitizen platform for those needing assistance to access government services.
Citizens using these services must also pay the applicable official service charges where required.
The Ksh150 auxiliary charge, introduced in 2023, was standardised and rolled out across all 57 Huduma Centres in 2023 for extra services.
Customers seeking cyber services in cyber cafe' outside a Huduma Centre.
The clarification comes as Huduma Kenya seeks to explain the distinction between charges for government services and the separate fee for assistance at cyber cafés.
Through a statement seen by Kenyans.co.ke on October 14, Huduma Kenya said the Ksh150 fee is separate from official eCitizen charges, thus, customers seeking assistance must account for the additional cost when accessing these services.
However, Huduma Kenya explained that the cyber cafés operating within its centres are run by independent business owners and not the agency itself. The agency said these cafes are chosen through government tenders.
It further maintained that it does not collect revenue from services delivered to citizens through the independently operated cyber cafés.
“Huduma Kenya cyber cafés are operated by independent business owners, and we do not collect any revenue from the delivery of services to citizens. Note, a service fee may be incurred for a specific service and a convenience fee through the eCitizen platform,” Huduma Kenya stated.
Researchers have found that Kenyans most frequently seek civil registration, identity, transport, and social welfare services at Huduma Centres.
These include National Registration Bureau ID processing, Civil Registration birth and death certificates, driving license renewals and vehicle services, and SHA (Social Health Authority) registration.
For National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) services like driving license renewals, motorists pay Ksh650 for a one-year renewal, which includes a Ksh 600 agency fee and a Ksh 50 eCitizen platform convenience fee.
Employees at Kisumu Huduma Centre await citizens to arrive for services on January 29, 2026.
Photo
MOPS