The Postal Corporation of Kenya (Posta) is planning to evict Huduma Centres over Ksh1.7 billion rent arrears, a move that could see several government services crippled.
Huduma Centres, which are under the Ministry of Public Service were launched in 2013 in a bid to revolutionalise the public service by making it more accessible and effective.
Posta hosts close to half of the Huduma centres across the country, but the Ministry of Public Service has been slow to make rental payments.
“Posta is demanding Ksh1.7 billion in rent arrears that have accumulated for hosting the Huduma Centres. Some of the Huduma Centres are now being evicted and government data risks being compromised,” Ms Mary Kimonye, the Public Service Principal Secretary told Parliament’s Administration and Security committee.
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Some of the Huduma Centres housed by Posta that are facing closure include Nairobi (GPO), Kakamega, Nakuru, Meru, Mombasa, Machakos, Kisii, Bungoma, Marsabit and Isiolo.
“PCK is licensing kiosks in their premises around the Huduma Centres hence posing a huge threat of compromising crucial government data.” the PS said.
The Ministry is now seeking more funds from the government in a bid to pay the debt, as well as establish 10 more Huduma Centres.
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“We are sensitive to the fiscal constraints, but we need to enhance the Huduma program. Some of the Huduma Centres are very small like Embu and there is a need to acquire a bigger space,” she said.
Ms Kimonye told MPs that the Ministry has a Ksh12 billion budget deficit for public service transformation.
Currently, Posta runs 623 post offices and partners with about 5,000 stamp vendor licensees across the country. However, the state corporation has been unable to meet its financial obligations and was seeking Ksh1 billion from the government last year in a bid to keep afloat.