‘Stop Huduma Namba project,’ insists Human Rights Commission

The Kenya Human Rights Commission is challenging the pilot programme of the National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS) dubbed ‘Huduma Namba’. The Commission has moved to court questioning the legality of NIIMS.

“NIIMS was sneaked in through Miscellaneous Amendment Act 2018 that made a major amendment to the Registration of Person Act, inserting a statement that provides the legal basis for the project,” the statement reads in part.

“Miscellaneous Amendments do not give room for facilitating public involvement. NIIMS will have a substantial effect on individuals once implemented, hence ought to have been subjected to public participation.”

On Monday, the government begun testing the 6billion project in a effort to register millions of Kenyans for a digital database in 15 counties.

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The 15 counties in the pilot project are; Nairobi, Makueni, Uasin Gishu, Embu, Busia, Kajiado, Baringo, Marsabit, Kilifi, Kisii, Tana River, Embu, Kisumu, and Wajir.

In the near future Kenyans will be required to have the Huduma Namba in order to access services such as applying for an Identity Card, passport, driving licence and certificate of birth.

Mass registration of persons across the country has been scheduled to begin on March 18.

The rights group has sued National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, Attorney General Kariuki Kihara, Cabinet secretaries Fred Matiang’i (Interior), Joe Mucheru (ICT) and the Kenya Law Reform.

KHRC said the Huduma Namba functions the same way like the Integrated Population Registration System which is already working.

The case will be heard on February 21.

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