Nairobi — The Government has kicked off the pilot phase of digital ID ecosystem and Maisha Namba roll out in the country ahead of the official unveiling.
Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said Wednesday that the pilot phase will target first time ID applicants who are turning 18 years.
Bitok said that going forward, first time applicants will now be issued with the new Maisha Card as government moves away from the second-generation IDS.
"The, government is rolling out this pilot phase for Kenyans who have turned 18 and it will target individuals from different parts of the country," Bitok said.
Bitok stated that the trials aim to resolve possible gaps before the official launch across the country.
He made the remarks when he met with members of the civil society organizations over the planned digital ID rollout.
Bitok disclosed that he had had successful engagement with the rights groups who endorsed the rollout.
In regard to the funding of the exercise, Bitok said the Immigrations Department is not spending any additional funding in this project but utilizing the monies allocated to run the programme.
In considering public participation, Bitok said that Ministry had taken part in over 800 engagements on the rollout as part of the efforts to ensure the success of the Maisha Namba rollout.
Speaking in the event, Executive Director for Amnesty International Kenya Irungu Houghton said that the rights groups appreciate the level of openness and engagement with the government on the new ID.
Houghton stressed the importance of transparency in the roll out of the new digital ID adding that it would ensure that the government adheres to all the rules and regulations required in conducting the process.
In a bid to reach out to a majority of Kenyans, PS Bitok said that the government had printed over 100,000 booklets detailing the Frequently asked questions about the new identification system.
On October 30, President William Ruto announced that Kenyans will be issued with the new digital identification cards from December.
Ruto who spoke during the launch of locally assembled mobile devices in Athi River, stated that the digital ID will enable holders make transactions conveniently using their iris and fingerprints.
On September 29, the government postponed the planned launch of Kenya's Digital ID platform dubbed the Maisha Number initially slated for October 2.
"We wish to inform the public that the and all stakeholders that due to unavoidable circumstances, the official launch of the Maisha number and the digital ID ecosystem that was to be presided over by his excellency, the President William Ruto on October 2nd has been postponed," Bitok announced.
The State Department of Immigration and Citizen Services had earlier set the launch date on September 12 following a meeting of the Principal Secretaries' (PSs) Sub-Committee of the National Digital Identity Technical Committee.
President William Ruto was expected to preside over the launch at the Athletics Club in Nakuru County.
Digitized ID
Set to gradually replace the current national IDs, the digitized identification will virtually incorporate all personal detailed identifier data including Birth Certificate, death certificate, Maisha card as well as driver's license among others.
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The PS noted that newborn children will be assigned a distinct number that will serve as their birth certificate number and later as an identification number for all government services, including, registration of death.
Bitok emphasized that the Maisha Number will feature a Machine-Readable Zone, conforming to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.
This enhancement according to PS Bitok distinguishes the Maisha Card from its predecessor, the Huduma Card, which marked an attempt to digitize identity under former President Uhuru Kenyatta's regime.
The comprehensive roll out of the project has been estimated to take a transition period of 2 to 3 years.
