Kenyans who will not have acquired the Huduma Namba card by December 12 next year will not be able to access any government services, Cabinet Secretary (CS) ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs Joe Mucheru has threatened.
Two million Kenyans are expected to be issued with the cards in December this year with the number expected to increase to five million by February next year.
A total of 37.7 million were registered in the exercise launched on April 2 last year by President Uhuru Kenyatta under the National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS) to harmonize and standardize citizens’ personal data into a single number for efficient service delivery.
“You have one year to get the card and within one year the government is going to make sure you have received your Huduma card to help you access services,” Mucheru said
The CS who also launched the process of giving out the first batch of 120 cards to Machakos residents has clarified that the government has put all necessary mechanisms to enable the millions of cards whose distribution will officially kick off on December 1 this year are issued out in line with the prescribed Covid 19 health protocols.
Those who have registered will first receive an SMS notification via their mobile phone notifying them of the date and the place where they are supposed to collect their cards.
Mucheru has downplayed public fears on personal data security by emphasizing that the government has followed all laid down regulations and policies to ensure individual details are safe and tamper-proof.
He says the government has surmounted all legal challenges that had slowed the process of issuing the cards due to litigation that had been filed in blocking the NIIMS program.
“All issues regarding court litigations over individual data protection, regulations, and privacy on businesses have been addressed. With the new Data Commissioner Immaculate Kasait in office and the passing by Parliament of laws on data regulation, all information in the Huduma card is now tamper-proof and therefore nobody can access your data without your authorization,” he added.
In addition, the CS has urged Kenyans to embrace online platforms in accessing essential government services such as e-citizen saying this will not only ease the way of doing business but propel the country to the league of developed nations in the world.
