ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru, on Wednesday, November 18, announced that the current card used as a National Identification Document would cease operating next year.
While leading the commencement of issuance and distribution of Huduma Namba cards in Machakos County, the CS noted that National IDs would be replaced by Huduma Namba Cards.
Mucheru specifically revealed that the current ID card would become obsolete on December 12, 2021 after the nationwide rollout of the Huduma Namba.
During the launch of the first set of Huduma Nambas during 11th Mashujaa Day in Kisii, President Uhuru Kenyatta had revealed that the cards would be issued by December 1, 2020.
The Huduma Namba is expected to aggregate the numerous information sets that are needed to get various government sets ranging from NHIF, NSSF, birth details, driving license, KRA information, among others.
The only stumbling block at the time was the appointment of former IEBC Director of Voter Education Immaculate Kassait as Kenya's first Data Commissioner.
Kassait was sworn in on Monday, November 16, the country’s first holder of the position in an event that paved way for the rollout of Huduma Namba.
Three types of the National Integrated Information Management System (NIIMS) cards popularly known as Huduma Namba cards will be issued to various groups of people.
Children below the age of 18 will receive the Minors Huduma Namba Card. Newborns will be required to be registered within 90 days after they are born.
The minors will only receive the cards upon attaining 6 years old and use it to enroll in school.
Huduma Namba Card will be issued to Kenyans above the age of 18 while the third will be issued to non-citizen adults, who will get the Foreign Nationals Huduma Namba Card.
The cards are similar to the current national ID cards by appearance and will include the holder’s name, date of birth, sex, NIIMS number, nationality or residence as well as a photograph.
The cards also have an electronic chip similar to an ATM.
History of National ID
According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), the issuance of identity cards dates back to 1915 when the colonial government enacted the Native Registration Ordinance.
The objective of the registration was to supervise and control the recruitment of male Africans into colonial labour. The Ordinance made it mandatory for all male adults aged 16 and above to be registered.
Upon registration, they were issued with registration papers kept in copper chained metal containers commonly referred to as “Kipande.” The Kipande was ordinarily worn around the neck.