President Uhuru Kenyatta last week directed all county commissioners to ensure that all Kenyans aged 6 years and above in each county are registered on the National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS) starting February this year.
According to the Head of State, NIIMS will be the authentic source of truth of the identity of all persons living in Kenya including foreigners and creating a central master population register that will be easily and efficiently managed.
This will help in the realization of the big four agenda through the provision of citizen data necessary in enhancing food security, affordable healthcare, and proper housing and future planning of our country.
Each NIIMS registration will generate a unique number known as a Huduma Namba, which upon capturing biometric data of all Kenyans and foreigners, will be used as a personal password for one to access government services.
This means that if one fails to register in NIIMS, he or she will miss on crucial government services such as obtaining of National Identity card, passport, driving licenses or even a birth certificates which are crucial documents.
Despite facing resistance from human rights groups and many Kenyans who have raised concerns over the possible risk of abuse of the digital legal database by unscrupulous entities, the government has remained adamant that the process will go on and all Kenyans must comply.
The pilot program for NIIMS registration is set to start in 15 counties of Nairobi, Uasin Gishu, Kajiado, Busia, Makueni, Nyandarua, Kiambu, Kilifi, Marsabit and Tana River.