Hundreds of tourists were left stranded and frustrated across various national parks in Kenya due to the abrupt implementation of President William Ruto's directive to transition government services onto the eCitizen platform.

The directive, which aimed to centralize payment channels and enhance accountability, ordered all government departments to exclusively utilize the platform for transactions.

However, the move resulted in unexpected chaos for visitors to popular recreation centers, who found themselves barred from entry unless they paid through the eCitizen system.

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), responsible for managing national parks and wildlife conservation, enforced the directive by requiring all entry fees to be processed exclusively through eCitizen.

Tourists arriving at the parks were shocked to discover that only those who had paid via the platform were granted access.

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This sudden change caught many off guard, including institutions and tour guides who were forced to use their individual eCitizen accounts to rescue stranded tourists.

John Kariuki, a tour guide at Tsavo East, shared his experience, stating, "I had to load Sh12,000 to pay for tourists in Tsavo East using my account."

The frustration was widespread, with similar scenes unfolding at Nairobi National Park.

Tourists were disappointed as the eCitizen platform encountered technical issues, causing temporary crashes and further complicating entry procedures.

Mohammed Hersi, the chairman of the Diani Hospitality Owners Association, shed light on the predicament faced by tourists.

He highlighted that many visitors were excluded from accessing the parks due to their reliance on corporate payment channels, which the eCitizen platform currently does not accommodate.

"The majority of tourists pay through corporates and there's no provision in eCitizen for that. Majority were barred but some tour operators had to load their accounts to pay on behalf of the tourists," Hersi explained.

The Kenya Wildlife Service attempted to quell the turmoil by issuing a statement on Monday, announcing that the eCitizen system would be fully operational for park entry by Friday.

Despite the reassurance, tourists faced inconveniences and disruptions during the transition period, leading to a less-than-ideal experience in the renowned national parks.

President Ruto's directive, issued in June, aimed to streamline government payment systems and enhance accountability by consolidating payments under a single channel.

The President emphasized the significance of centralizing payment for government services, revealing the official government pay bill number which would be managed by the National Treasury.

As the eCitizen platform's implementation continues, the authorities must address the challenges faced by both tourists and service providers, ensuring a smoother transition to the new payment system without compromising the visitors' experiences.

The incident serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between technological advancement and the need for seamless, user-friendly solutions in the realm of government services.