Constitutional lawyer Willis Evans Otieno has taken a hardline stance against Parliament, accusing it of betraying the Kenyan people by turning a blind eye to what he described as a massive heist of public funds through the eCitizen platform.

In a statement posted on his official X account on Tuesday, August 6, 2025, Otieno raised alarm over irregular payments made through the eCitizen system, painting a grim picture of state-sanctioned financial misconduct and institutional failure.

“By June 2024, the Kenyan government had already paid Ksh492 million and 414,000 USD for eCitizen platform services, but here’s the bombshell: the money did not go to the contracted service provider. Instead, it was funnelled to a shadowy entity called Electronic Citizen Solutions, a company with no legal contract with the government,” he stated.

Otieno’s remarks come in the wake of the Auditor General’s report, which confirmed that Ksh127.8M had been irregularly transferred from the official eCitizen Paybill number to private entities as of January 25, 2025. The same report reveals that over Ksh11B was diverted into private accounts through the eCitizen platform, with some of the funds traced to individuals allegedly linked to top government offices.

“No legal policy framework was ever established. No public oversight mechanisms were put in place,” Otieno said, warning that the scale and audacity of the alleged fraud reflect deeper institutional rot.

In his scathing critique, Otieno directed sharp criticism at Parliament, accusing it of abandoning its role as a constitutional watchdog and protector of public interest.

“Parliament, meant to be the people’s watchdog, has now become the regime’s poodle,” he said, a biting metaphor that underlines what he perceives as Parliament’s failure to demand accountability from the executive and protect public resources.

Otieno’s sentiments echo growing public frustration over increasing reports of graft and lack of transparency in state digital platforms, especially with the rapid digitisation of government services. The eCitizen platform, once hailed as a breakthrough in service delivery and convenience, is now at the centre of a billion-shilling financial scandal.

The lawyer called for immediate investigations and prosecution of those responsible, stressing that no amount of digitisation justifies the syphoning of public money through unofficial channels.

He also raised questions about the role of regulatory institutions and oversight bodies, urging them to step up or risk being viewed as complicit.

His statement comes at a time when the public is demanding answers not just from the executive but from Parliament, which holds the constitutional power to summon and censure those involved in financial impropriety.

As the scandal unfolds, all eyes are now on investigative agencies and Members of Parliament to prove they are not merely extensions of the regime but true representatives of the people.

So far, there has been no official response from either the National Treasury or the Ministry of ICT regarding the identity of Electronic Citizen Solutions, the alleged recipient of the diverted billions.

The unfolding scandal is poised to test the credibility of Parliament, the independence of oversight institutions, and the government’s commitment to transparency in the digital age.