Why Huduma Namba Applicants Risk Jail For Giving Wrong Information

President Uhuru Kenyatta and First Lady Margaret display new Huduma Cards at Gusii Stadium on Tuesday, October 20, 2020.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and First Lady Margaret display new Huduma Cards at Gusii Stadium on Tuesday, October 20, 2020.
File

Individuals who give false information about themselves during Huduma Namba registration risk going to jail.

According to a proposed Huduma Namba Bill, 2021, those who give false details about themselves  or make false declarations for Huduma Namba registration also face a Ksh3 million fine or three years imprisonment

The bill seeks to curb unlawful use of information like names, date of birth, postcode and residences.

Sample of the Huduma Namba Card
Sample of the Huduma Namba Card
File

"A person commits an offence in respect of Huduma Card where the person unlawfully alters or modifies any information available on the Huduma card, unlawfully makes, produces, prints, design or distribute a Huduma card or permits unauthorised of their Huduma card by another person,” the bill reads in part.

This includes forging documents to facilitate enrolling into the National Integrated Identity Management (NIIMS) database, impersonate  another person  by providing any false biometric information.

Huduma Namba Bill 2021 defines an individuals full name, date of birth, place of birth, gender, photograph and biometric data as foundational data . It further restricts  the sharing and publishing of the same.

Individuals who are caught intentionally or unintentionally disclosing, transmitting and disseminating data collected during registration will also be punished by law.

Upon conviction, they are liable to a five-year jail term or a fine of Ksh5 million.

In October the High Court declared the Huduma Namba roll out illegal. Nonetheless, the new bill will rope in the Data Protection Act in the processing of personal data.

In addition, a number of key government institutions that provided crucial services to Kenyans may soon be rescinded. The bill proposes the installation of a database that will include key functions at the desk of the Interior Principal Secretary.

The proposed law provides for the establishment of the National Integrated Identity Management System database, which will lead to the establishment of Huduma Namba and Huduma Card.

Undated image of Huduma Centre in Makadara, Nairobi
Undated image of Huduma Centre in Makadara, Nairobi
Capital Group

Upon conviction, they are liable to a five-year jail term or a fine of Ksh5 million.

In October  the High Court  declared the Huduma Namba roll out illegal. Nonetheless, the new bill will rope in the Data Protection Act in the processing of personal data under Huduma Namba.

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