Things have
This comes in spite of a High Court order, delivered by a three-judge bench on April 1, 2019, that the government should not issue deadlines for the collection of National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS) data or make the exercise mandatory.
Machakos County, however, on Tuesday released a memo to all staff directing them to register for NIIMS and get a Huduma Namba by April 20, 2019.
“Please note that your May 2019 salary will not be released without your Huduma Number (Namba) having been submitted to the payroll office,” read the memo signed by Public Service and Quality Management Chief Officer Joseph Ochwada.
The move has sparked public uproar.
President Uhuru Kenyatta has defended the biometric listing of Kenyans, saying it will play a pivotal role in the ongoing fight against corruption.
Uhuru revealed an audit last year exposed about 5,000 ghost police officers who cost taxpayers over Sh148 million monthly.
He said beneficiaries of corruption proceeds were among those resisting the National Integrated and Identity Management System (NIIMS) programme.
Speaking at Masii High School grounds in Machakos County where he launched a nationwide Huduma Namba registration drive, the president dismissed those opposed to the programme, saying they were afraid of being exposed for possible involvement in corruption