Nairobi, Feb. 7 -- The government has suffered a blow after the High Court on Wednesday suspended a directive requiring payment of fees and other levies for all public learning institutions to be made through the e-Citizen platform.

Justice Chacha Mwita suspended the circular issued by Education PS Belio Kipsang' on January 31, requiring parents, guardians and students to pay fees and other levies through the platform.

The court suspended the circular after Nakuru-based surgeon Magare Gikenyi challenged the directive saying the decision was arrived at without public participation, and without respecting statutory and constitutional safeguards.

Dr Gikenyi says that bringing services closer is a good thing, but the mandatory nature of it...