The National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS) is a mass biometric registration system introduced the Government that will create, manage and store Kenya’s population data but has been met with a lot of resistance, especially by conspiracy theorists.
Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has dispelled rumours linking the government’s biometric registration exercise, NIIMS, to the proverbial satanic numbers documented in the Bible’s Revelation book.
Mr Musyoka’s statement comes on the back of a viral popular belief among sections of Kenyans that signs of end times are manifesting in the way the government is “forcing” its citizens to have the NIIMS numbers, which, according to them, is “a database managed by Satan”.
“I hear some people saying that NIIMS technology has a link to Illuminati… and that, the proverbial 666 in the Bible would come into existence after the exercise ends.
I want to allay those fears,” said Mr Musyoka, who was presiding over the roll out of the NIIMS registration exercise at Ihura in Murang’a County on Tuesday.
“This registration has nothing [to do with Illuminati]. It is simply for efficiency [reasons]; so that we can all move together,” said Mr Musyoka.
“When this process ends, we won’t even have to conduct voter registration [as each Kenyan’s registration records will be readily available in one system],” said Mr Musyoka.
Biometric data means unique identifiers or attributes including fingerprints, hand geometry, earlobe geometry, retina and iris patterns, voice waves and DNA samples.
The system will require data for Kenyans aged six and above, and foreigners living in the country.
NIIMS will integrate GPS monitoring for persons applying for new identification cards as they will be required to provide information about their postal address, land reference number and plot or house number.
To register, one is required to carry original copies of their identification documents such as ID, birth certificate, driving license, KRA pin and most importantly, their physical presence at the station.
Upon registration, a number christened Huduma Namba, will be given to those registered.
The purpose of Huduma Namba will be to assign a personal unique identification to facilitate government services after capturing biometric data of all citizens and foreigners.