Kenya’s Immigration and Citizen Services Cabinet Secretary, Julius Bitok, is emphasizing the government’s commitment to data security during the implementation of its new digital Identity Card program. The government asserted its compliance with legal frameworks and emphasized its collaboration with the Office of Data Commissioners in conducting data impact assessments.
“I want to assure the country that we are putting mechanisms to ensure that we have a smooth transition from the old generation ID to the digital ID, which is a third generation ID, and that no Kenyan will be discriminated against,” Bitok said.
The digital ID initiative aims to replace older generation IDs, with officials stating that no citizen will face discrimination due to their enrollment status. The program is closely tied to an e-Citizen platform that already serves over 13 million registered users.
The government’s objective is to enroll Kenya’s entire adult population of 32 million within the next one to two years.
“We have worked very hard and made progress to ensure that we push the numbers and on average, we are enrolling about 30,000 people every day on e-Citizens and when looking at the entire population of 32 million adults, we are halfway and hoping within one year to two years, we should have everybody having a digital ID,” Bitok added.
The digital ID program, known as the “Maisha ecosystem,” comprises four core elements: a “Maisha number” assigned at birth, a “Maisha card” (the physical ID), a virtual “Maisha Digital” alternative, and the “Maisha integrated database” (IPRS) for inter-agency connectivity.
Source: Kenya News Agency
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May 10, 2024 — by Ali Nassar-Smith
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