A number of Deputy President William Ruto's allies on Thursday, September 24, claimed that there is a plot by the government to manipulate data in the 2022 general elections using Huduma Number.
The MPs were speaking during the Olngesher Lool Ilmerishie ceremony of the Matapato clan of the Maasai community in Kajiado County.
The legislators faulted the second mass registration exercise for the Huduma Number, saying that an expatriate had been tasked with steering the program.
"We want to tell them that if it is about public procurement, they have no business taking it to the National Intelligence Service. Take it through the legal processes," Ichungwa stated.
Nakuru senator Susan Kihika weighed in on the matter, questioning why the National Intelligence Service (NIS) was being involved in the proposed registration rather than the parent ministry.
In addition, the legislators stated that the mass registration was currently not a priority for Kenyans who have endured tough economic times during the COVID-19 pandemic period.
“A lot of money was used in the first phase of Huduma Namba registration. We cannot be losing money to projects that are of no value to the common man,” Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa stated.
Unanimously, the legislators questioned what became of the first phase of registration conducted in 2019.
"Tell Kenyans what the outcome of the first registration was," Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa demanded.
The uproar came a week after Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho revealed plans to carry out a second mass registration exercise for the Huduma Number.
The PS stated that the second mass registration would only be made available for Kenyans who failed to enroll in the initial process back in 2019.
"37 million Kenyans registered for Huduma Namba in 2019. The process is 90% complete, Kenyans will be able to throw away all other cards once Huduma cards are produced.
"Children will now be born straight into Huduma Namba system," noted PS Kibicho.
The government stated that Huduma Number will serve as a reference point for ease of service delivery to the people of Kenya.
