E-service for identity cards
Prime Minister Raila Odinga launches the Government electronic service for tracking identity cards and passports. Photo/ HEZRON NJOROGE.
What you need to know:
- Kenyans to send SMS to tracking numbers 2031 or 2032.
The Government has launched a new electronic service to track the application of identification cards (IDs) and passports.
The project known as “e-service” allows one to query the issuance of IDs and passports by sending a short message service (SMS) to the tracking number 2031 or 2032.
From the SMS, Kenyans will know what is needed to apply and also track the processing of the documents.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga said that Government was embracing technology in governance as a way of improving service delivery to Kenyans.
He said that it was uneconomical and unhelpful for members of the public to keep travelling from all corners of the country to track progress of essential documents in Nairobi.
“This service is therefore particularly beneficial to Kenyans living upcountry or far from central service points,” said Mr Odinga.
To mark the launch the PM sent out one million random SMS's to mobile phone users notifying them of the service. He noted that this e-Government initiative would in the near future be extended to cover other critical services such as pensions and land title deeds.
The service coordinated by the Public Sector Reforms and Performance Contracting at the Prime Minister’s Office and spearheaded by the Ministry of Information and Communication is in line with the Vision 2030 to improve service delivery.
Through the e-Government office, the ongoing projects include the upgrades of the court registry and library management system that creates national repository of cases.
But one obstacle to the implementation of such services is the norm by government departments treating a lot of information it generates with a lot of secrecy.
The classification of information as secret and confidential has created legal obstruction to the flow of information and as a result people cannot get open access to the information they require.
Others who accompanied the PM for the launch at the KICC in Nairobi were: Ministers Dalmas Otieno (Public Service), Jeffa Kingi (East Africa Cooperation) and Yusuf Haji (Defence).
Also present was head of public service Francis Muthaura and government spokesman Dr Alfred Mutua.
Mr Muthaura also praised the new initiative.
