This archive report was first published on 21 November 2019.
Matiang'i Seeks Ksh1bn For Huduma Namba Cards Printing ¶
On November 21, 2019, Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i requested Parliament's approval for Sh1 billion to print Huduma Namba cards, a move that has sparked controversy.
The funds will be used for the second component of the National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS), which has been shrouded in mystery amid concerns about the security of data the government says it wants to use to streamline the public service.
Close to Sh7 billion has been spent on the digitization process, which is expected to cost the taxpayers Sh9.6 billion upon completion.
Three lobby groups, including the Nubian Rights Forum and the Kenya Human Rights Commission, have challenged the implementation of the NIIMS in court.
Interior PS Karanja Kibicho defended the request for cash to print the cards, saying it would settle Kenyans' anxiety on the project.
“Over time, we are asked about what we will give at the end of the registration. We want to deal with this by issuing a digital card – a third-generation ID, with unique identifiers,” the PS said.
The government will spend Sh26 to print each card, factoring the 38 million said to have been reached in the listing drive.
MPs at the Security and National Administration Committee are split on whether to approve the request, with some questioning the need for monies yet there is no clarity on what has been spent so far.
