Huduma Namba registration will not be extended beyond May 17, according to a senior government official.
Central Regional Commissioner Wilson Nyagwanga has warned that the government has no budget earmarked for extension of the programme after the deadline, which may lock out many Kenyans.
Nyagwanga urged all to enlist in the National Integrated Identity Management System, which they will use to access government services.
“Kenyans should stop the attitude of rushing to comply with anything when deadline has lapsed,” he said when he inspected the ongoing registration.
According to the government, more than 21 million Kenyans have so far registered nationally.
The administrator revealed only 2.3 million people in Central region less than 45 per cent, have so far registered against a target of over seven million.
He directed chiefs and their assistants to educate residents on the importance of registration.
Earlier, the Communications Authority had threatened to switch off the phones of those who will not have registered by May 17.
Among the punitive measures suggested by the authority making one unable to use his or her mobile phone, access to M-Pesa, Airtel Money and make ATM withdrawals.
His sentiments, he said, were backed by government efforts to curb cyber-crime arguing that Kenyans ought to take the registration seriously.
But State House chief of Staff Nzioka Waita said there was no such directive from the government.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Huduma Number Registration is a voluntary exercise in compliance with the ruling of the courts. There is no directive from the Government to institute any punitive measures against those who don’t register. More emphasis will be laid on civic education!,” he said on his twitter handle.
Kenyans expressed their displeasure with the Authority’s threat and some even dared the authority and the government to block their communication gadgets.