Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has demanded the nullification of two government projects associated with Maisha Namba Digital IDs, a move prompted by the High Court’s suspension of their implementation.
The government, in September 2023, had greenlit four key components for the development of Digital Identity, encompassing Maisha Namba (UPI), Maisha Card & Digital Signature, and Master National Population Register. However, Omtatah, utilizing his X platform, contends that the National Master Population Register (NMPR) and the Maisha Card (chip-bearing ID) are non-compliant with Kenya’s Data Protection Act.
The first-time senator stressed the imperative need for a data protection impact assessment to guide the nation in executing citizen data-related projects. Such assessments play a crucial role in identifying and mitigating risks associated with processing personal data, aligning with the protection of citizens’ privacy rights.
Omtatah also drew parallels between the court’s intervention in the Maisha Namba rollout and a previous verdict that nullified the digital ID scheme’s predecessor, Huduma Namba, initiated during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure. He insisted that the implementation of the chip-bearing physical identity card, digital ID, unique personal identifier (UPI), and National Master Population Register should cease until the project aligns with Kenya’s Data Protection Act.
The High Court’s recent decision on Tuesday nullified the rollout of Maisha Namba, a 14-digit unique personal identifier slated to appear on citizens’ driver’s licenses, birth certificates, and death certificates. The judgment deemed the application not frivolous nor vexatious upon examination of the associated annexures.
In a prior announcement on September 28, 2023, Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok unveiled the digital identifications and a supporting system, including Maisha Namba, Maisha Card, Digital ID, and National Master Population Register. Bitok explained that the Maisha number would be assigned to newborn children, serving as their lifelong ID number, KRA PIN, NSSF number, birth, and death certificate number.
The government had allocated Ksh 1 billion for the implementation of digital identifiers, with the Immigration Department planning public awareness campaigns to educate Kenyans about the benefits of the new digital systems.
