Return of Huduma Namba? President Ruto hints at new technological system to identify Kenyans
In new plans by the government to digitize services for Kenyans, President William Ruto has hinted to an end to the government issuing national identity cards for identification which means the return of the Huduma Namba program.
Speaking during the observation of the International Data Day at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) yesterday, President Ruto hinted at a new shift that could see the government establish a new technological system to identify citizens.
While stating his plan to ensure that at least 5,000 government services will be accessible by citizens digitally in the next six months, President Ruto ordered the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to work on a digital identity that will identify Kenyans digitally.
“I have asked the Ministry of ICT to work on a digital identity so that the big Huduma that never was, we can finally have as a digital identity by the end of this year,” he said.
The Head of State also said that the Kenya Kwanza government will pursue a data protection regime that serves public interests.
He said it would be achieved by ensuring that there is sufficient information for effective and efficient delivery of services, further noting that the move will be pursued without compromising private data.
“We must also ensure that criminals do not hide under data protection or exploit it to perpetuate crime,” said the President.
“For Kenya to realise the maximum potential of the Digital Superhighway, we must have a clear data management plan that is promotive of our agenda for the digital economy.”
The Huduma Namba program was rolled out by former President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2019 but was rocked by controversy which prompted its failure to take off.
The High court in October 2021 issued a judgement finding that the launch of the Huduma card was unconstitutional, on grounds the Ministry of Interior did not implement data protection safeguards during collection of data from 36 million Kenyans.
The government last year appealed the High Court decision that had nearly ended the Sh10.6billion special identification programme, asking the court of Appeal to find that the programme was properly implemented.
The government argued that the Huduma Namba was a useful tool for the government to use in national planning, social services, project resource allocation and even project infrastructure.
