Government is set for Huduma Namba second phase before June 2020 as court validated the legitimacy - PS Karanja Kibicho

Interior PS Karanja Kibicho in Court over Huduma Namba. PHOTO | PD

Interior Ministry Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho says the Government will put in place measures to roll out the second phase of the Huduma Namba programme before June 2020.



The statement comes following Thursday's judgment by a three-judge High Court bench, which validated the legitimacy of the Huduma Namba, also referred to as the National Identity Integrated Management Systems (NIIMS).


A consolidated petition by the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), the Nubian Rights Forum and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) had challenged the legality of the NIIMS platform in court.


The Government was in the end vindicated on most of the issues that were raised. Chief among these was that the State, through involved Agencies, had adequately and sufficiently invited public participation in the process to amend the Registration of Persons Act to create NIIMS and the miscellaneous amendment Acts.


With the judgment read by Judges Pauline Nyamweya, Mumbi Ngugi and Weldon Korir, Kibicho said the Government will now implement legislation, policies and a regulatory framework for Kenyans to finally acquire a Huduma Namba and a Huduma Card.


“Upon the roll-out of this phase, the public will immensely benefit from the ease of service delivery and other advantages that come with a unique identification number,” said Kibicho.


“In this regard, the Government will immediately start preparing for the exercise, clean up the relevant pieces of legislation and provide regular updates to the members of public on the state of implementation of the project,” divulged Solicitor General, Kennedy Ogeto.


“Registering for Huduma Namba will enable the government plan and offer services to you in a faster and more efficient manner and also allow for appropriate resource planning and allocation. It will address duplication in registration, reduced operational costs and detected fraud and impersonation,  ” explained Kibicho said.