Human Rights groups demand for suspension of Maisha Number roll-out

By Peter Ochieng

Human rights activists aligned to 10 local groups want the government to suspend the planned roll-out of the Unique Personal Identifier (UPI), otherwise known as the Maisha Number.

President William Ruto is set to launch the UPI on 29th September, 2023, after the government allocated Sh1 billion for its success.

The activists are opposed to the ‘rushed’ roll-out, on grounds of lack of a robust legal framework, and lack of public participation on the thorny issue.

They are aligned to various organizations, among them the Nubian Rights Forum, Namati Kenya, Centre for Minority Development, Kenya Human Rights Commission Defenders Coalition, Access Now, Katiba Institute, Haki Na Sheria Initiative, Article 19 Eastern Africa and Pastoralists Rights and Advocacy Network.

“We reinforce that the opaque rollout, lack of public engagements and a lack of proper procedural and legal safeguards associated with the Unique Personal Number rollout would wreak havoc on the ways citizens access nationality documents,” they said in a joint statement.

They called on the government to utilize the opportunity to initiate a cross-stakeholders powered process, with a transition period to ensure a smooth rollout of digital ID.

This week, Immigration Principal Secretary (PS) Julius Bitok, said issuance of second-generation ID cards will stop on 30th September, 2023, a day after president William Ruto launches the UPI to be issued to all citizens at birth, with the government having allocated Sh1 billion to ensure its success.

Bitok said the UPI, also known as Maisha Card or Maisha Number will be used as the official identifier throughout all education stages and tax payment via the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), amongst others.

PS Bitok said that the Maisha Card, also known as the third generation ID will be available digitally, ruling out the need to have it carried everywhere one goes.

“This is a move from second-generation to third-generation IDs. It will be accessible digitally so that those not willing to carry the physical copy can have a digital copy on their phones,” added the PS.

A similar exercise dubbed Huduma Number during retired president Uhuru Kenyatta's time in office, ended in 'tears' as it proved unsuccessful.