State starts process to issue Kenyans with ‘super’ ID
PHOTO | FILE Uncollected ID cards in Kisumu. The promised digital registration of Kenyans has been put in motion with the appointment of a top IT expert to spearhead the most radical transformation of information management since independence.
What you need to know:
- Critics have questioned rationale of registering people afresh
- During his Madaraka Day speech last week, President Uhuru Kenyatta promised digital registration would begin in the next financial year that starts after the approval of the Budget. He assured critics that the motive of the process was to unify the management of information into a single, credible source.
The promised digital registration of Kenyans has been put in motion with the appointment of a top IT expert to spearhead the most radical transformation of information management since independence.
Ms Judy Mwende Gatabaki, who is seconded from the African Development Bank (AfDB) head office in Tunis, was last week appointed acting Director-General of the giant Kenya Citizens and Foreign Nationals Management Service that is expected to come up with a national digital people registry within six months.
“The process will be done in phases, and is expected to give a clean, complete, correct and easily available database. This will mean a clean-up of the existing records and fresh registration of every Kenyan and foreigner in the country,” said a source familiar with the plans, who did not wish to be named.
BUDGET APPROVAL
During his Madaraka Day speech last week, President Uhuru Kenyatta promised digital registration would begin in the next financial year that starts after the approval of the Budget. He assured critics that the motive of the process was to unify the management of information into a single, credible source.
The appointment of Ms Gatabaki by Interior Minister Joseph ole Lenku also effectively means plans to bring the Immigration Services, the civil registry, the national registry and the department of integrated population registration system under one super agency led by a director general will soon be complete.
In the past, there have been reports of corrupt officials helping foreigners — including suspected terrorists — to acquire legal identification and travel documents, and people using forged papers or those belonging to dead people.
The registration to create a database that is “the single source of truth” on all Kenyans from birth to death will require the presentation of existing documents to a centre.
The bio-data will then be recorded before finger prints are taken, an iris scan (for identification using the eye’s features) done and a digital picture taken. The digital image is meant to, among other things, provide data to be used once the proposed Sh15 billion integrated security system is complete.
CRIME DATABASE
The registration is also expected to set up a crime database to help security agencies perform their duties efficiently, and facilitate the Nyumba Kumi initiative by recording where people live. Visitors to hotels and guest house will also have their details digitally recorded.
“This is not just about security, there are also socio-economic benefits expected. Improved services and the disruption of corruption networks are also envisioned,” said our source, adding that even children under 12 years will be registered.
The next phase of the broad transformation will involve digital registration of land, establishments like companies and societies, and assets. The strategy will later involve shared services in government and a one-stop shop for public service. In future, the records will be under the National Digital Registry Service.
“The plan also involves having a data protection law to shield the information from being accessed by unauthorised individuals,” our source said.
After the registration process, there are proposals to provide one identification card with a chip that carries all the details. But Kenyans may also have digital or paperless IDs that will enable them to access services from anywhere, anytime without physical documents.
“Citizens will use mobile phones to authenticate themselves to access public services, instead of repetitive completion of forms,” says part of the proposal.
The decision to get an expert from outside the public service to lead the process is said to have been informed by the failure of past attempts mainly due to corrupt political and business interests. Ms Gatabaki, who is a special advisor to the AfDB first vice-president, has held senior positions in the United Nations, the World Food Programme, Kenya Tea Development Agency and Kenya Wildlife Service.
The Kenya Citizens and Foreign Nationals Management Service was formed in 2011 through an Act of Parliament but has been dormant.
