Huduma Namba is a programme which was initiated through Executive Order to create and manage a Central Master Population Register which will be the authentic ‘source of truth’ of the identity of all people residing in Kenya.
Already, the government has recruited some 50,000 registration officials who will be attached to various assistant chief’s offices. The multi-billion shillings National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS), exercise is set to kick off on April 2 after
Barely a week to the much-publicized registration of all Kenyan citizens, foreigners and refugees under NIIMS, the government has assured that all is set. Once registered, a person will be given a Huduma Namba (unique number) that one will be required to use while accessing government services.
“Any person without relevant documents should also avail themselves for registration and their details captured accordingly for verification,” Immigration Principal Secretary Gordon Kihalangwa said during an interview published on Interior Ministry twitter handle.
Here is what you should know about the exercise:
The mass registration will be carried out for a period of 45 days in all days of the week including holidays starting 7am to 5pm. It will be a mandatory exercise for all people residing in Kenya whether citizens or not.
The government will only be keen on capturing fingerprints and facial pictures only. Authorities have cautioned those who will not register that they risk failing to access government services.
With the Huduma Namba, one will not need to carry their Identity Card, driving licence, passport or alien cards, among others.
Among the benefits of having a Huduma Namba is easy access to government services, coordinated registration of people, it will address duplication in registration and reduce operational costs, detect and prevent fraud, impersonation or any other crime.