Huduma Namba a good idea at a bad time

This week, the government has once again reminded us that we shouldn’t have voted for them in the first place, and that we have no existing opposition in place.

Have you seen the billboards around of ODM leader Raila Odinga (of the same picture, of course, as his campaign) supporting the registering of citizens for Huduma Namba?

He is showing his solidarity with a cause that clearly only top government officials know about, which is why they are getting their daughters to register as well, in a big public relations show meant to convince citizens to also register.

I’m not against Huduma Namba. Au contraire, I think it is a great idea. It would be great to have a central place to access all citizens’ data, and it definitely would help with planning for resource use and mobilisation, particularly in this era of devolution.

ROBBED DAILY

But why, oh why, must such a great idea be accompanied by a significant lack of communication?

Listen, as Kenyans, we are hurting. We’re already robbed daily, according to our dailies. Our government is running behind a smokescreen of mirrors, shrouded in mystery every time officials want to take more money from our already heavily taxed citizenry. In addition, most people can’t access services the government promises.

The government says Huduma Namba is a way to consolidate information, but it is perfectly capable of doing that without involving us, seeing as it give us all the documents to begin with.

And where was the public participation that heralded this as an idea that had to be implemented immediately? We already have systems in place that are not functioning. How then does it make sense to have an entire system introduced on the back of failing ones, however great a system it is?

PASSPORT

I went to apply for yet another new system last week – getting a passport - because I’ve been told, by the very same government, that the one I got in 2016 will no longer be valid if I want to travel this year.

So I must pay Sh5,000 again to get a new one. I must stand in a queue from the crack of dawn, for about six hours, to hand in documents and take a picture.

I must print three copies of an invoice and an application form that I filled digitally – never mind that the point of digital application is to save paper and reduce physical visits to Nyayo House at hours during which the rest of the world sleeps.

I must pray that on this day, passport officials don’t need bribing and that I won’t have to wait for the document for six months, and then pay 'something' to get it out because I am desperate and have more use for the passport than I do my misplaced morals.

After spending that Sh5,000 and dealing with rude officials while being forced to squeeze far too close to the other people in the queues, I am informed that my salary is at risk of being deducted yet again, because the government wants to build a few people houses.

Also, the fuel price is up by Sh5– because so much time has passed, from when they reduced and increased and reduced the fuel levy last year, that they can play these tricks on us again.

BAD TIMING

The Huduma Namba is a good idea at a bad time. What we have already in the form of unique numbers – our IDs, passports and KRA PIN certificates – should suffice for planning and collaboration.

Data protection laws in parliament are suspended and are not anywhere near where we need them to be for Kenyans to hand over this information. Perhaps they should try again during the census in August– if that is even still happening.

Anything short of clearer communication and a fully functional civil service system is a lie to Kenyans and disregard for the common man.

Personally, I’m not boarding – not until it is made clear why I need to be on this ship. The reason our government can keep stealing from us is because we, too, continue to let it.

Twitter: @AbigailArunga