This archive report was first published on 25 July 2019.
On July 31, the government will hold a public participation forum at the Kenya School of Government to gather views on the Huduma Bill, a legislation that will make it compulsory for Kenyans to have a Huduma Namba to access various services.
According to the Daily Nation, the Huduma card will serve as the official government-issued document for identification and conduct of transactions, requiring individuals to have the number to register as a voter, access universal healthcare, and more.
However, critics argue that this new system will be controlled by a central database, which raises concerns about data privacy and security, especially in light of recent scandals such as Cambridge Analytica and Safaricom's hack spree.
The government claims that the information is intact, but the High Court has already ruled that registration should be voluntary, and denying services is exactly what they are trying to do.
Those who fail to register or use the Huduma Namba will face penalties, including jail time or hefty fines, with people who seek services without the number facing one year in jail or a Sh1 million fine.
The Huduma Namba fiasco has been marred by miscommunication, threats, and rampant confusion, and it remains to be seen how the government will manage a countrywide card distribution.
