My County App: Counties, Safaricom Team Up to Digitize Services

Safaricom has confirmed details of the new My County app, which will enable Kenyan citizens to access county government services digitally. The service features a shared architecture that can be leveraged by all 47 county governments.

Safaricom shared details of the app during the ongoing Connected Summit in Nairobi.

The company has notably been ramping up its engagement with county governments in recent months. This year, Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa has on different occasions met the Governors of Nairobi, Laikipia, Elgeyo Marakwet, Murang’a and Uasin Gishu.

The talks have mostly focused on the digitization of county government services and expansion of internet connectivity in the counties.

On 9th March, Safaricom and Nairobi County led by Governor Johnson Sakaja signed an agreement for the digitization of services under the ‘My Nairobi’ application, to be developed and hosted by Safaricom. The service will include a mobile application, website and USSD shortcode. It will also be accessible on the M-Pesa app.

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“This My Nairobi Hub will enable us to offer better services to the people of Nairobi. It offers a one-stop shop for Nairobi County residents and visitors  to access services with multiple functionalities including making payments. Our partnership with  Safaricom will usher in a better experience not only in revenue aspects but real-time communication,” Sakaja disclosed at the time.

The My County app is modeled along the lines of the government’s eCitizen platform, which is credited with digitizing a wide range of government services relating to business, taxes marriage, driving, lands and civil registration services.

The national government is notably planning to digitize over 5,000 government services, with President William Ruto stating that they will be rolled out by June this year.

“This will make us more efficient, save resources and hasten the implementation of the plan, which will ultimately improve the quality of life of the people,” Ruto stated after meeting with Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa and Shameel Joosub of Vodacom at State House, Nairobi in January.

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