Government will not force Kenyans to take digital IDs, ICT CS
The ICT CS Eliud Owalo has asserted that no Kenyan will be forced to take the new Digital Identity cards (IDs)
The ICT CS Eliud Owalo has asserted that no Kenyan will be forced to take the new Digital Identity cards (IDs).
ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo has announced that the government will not force Kenyans to get the digital identity card, walking away from the directives of the previous regime.
The identity card, previously referred to as the Huduma Number, was meant to take the place of the current identity cards, which the government claims are out-of-date.
Owalo reassured Kenyans that the choice of whether to receive government services physically or online will be left in their hands while delivering a One-Year Status Report for the Ministry on Monday.
“Let me also clarify that when it comes to pass (the implementation of digital IDs), we will not force any Kenyan to take a digital identity. No, the onus will be on you to decide whether or not you want to get government services through your digital identity based on your bio-data or you want to physically visit government offices,” he said.
According to the CS, digital IDs will be essential for maintaining biodata on individuals and will help ease traffic around government buildings.
“We need virtual means through which the government can confirm you are who you claim to be,” Owalo noted.
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His stateme comes after a section of Kenyans had expressed reservations with the plan, arguing that a new card could just be issued with current numbers without overhauling the system
Initially, the government had planned to phase out the current generation of identity cards for a new one that would merge all the government-issued documents including birth certificates, NHIF numbers, and NSSF numbers among others.
The programme stalled after several glitches that saw former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration abandon the plan after billions of taxpayer money were spent.
Kenya Kwanza government revived the plans in early 2023 and has not given clear guidelines as to when the exercise will be rolled out.
The ministry has not also indicated whether the data that was collected during the mass registration exercise will be used to process the cards.
“The new system must be able to assign unique personal identification numbers at birth to all persons born in Kenya,” Owalo noted.
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