This archive report was first published on 21 November 2019.
The National Treasury has asked Parliament to approve an additional Sh1 billion to finalize the Huduma Namba project, which has already consumed Sh7.7 billion.
The requested funds are part of a Sh80.1 billion increase in the overall national spending in the supplementary budget estimates, currently before the Budget and Appropriation Committee.
MPs were curious about what appears to be wastage of public funds by Treasury, now that they seem to be on a spending spree.
Treasury acting Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani told MPs that the money will be spent on printing Huduma Namba ID cards.
Committee chair Kimani Ichung'wa expressed surprise that the government is seeking additional funds when it has not made public the outcome of the exercise conducted between April 2 and May 5.
The government initially created the impression that Kenyans would be issued with the number once they were listed, but made a U-turn and instead issued acknowledgement slips.
