We will launch digital IDs by December - Ruto

By Peter Ochieng

President William Ruto says the process of launching digital identification cards (IDs) remains on course.

The Head of State on Monday said the digital IDs will be launched by December, 2023, three months after the October, 2023 deadline was pushed foward.

Speaking during the launch of the East Africa Device Assembly in Mavoko, Machakos County on Monday, Ruto said the issue of digital IDs has been a major issue for long, but there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel.

"Already, the digital ID which has been a big problem to us for a very long time is now on a testing mode for the next two months," said the president.

"I have been assured by all the stakeholders led by the ministries concerned that by December, we will be able to launch digital ID where every Kenyan will not have to carry any paper, plastic or otherwise as an ID, that they should be able to identify digitally using their iris or their fingerprints, and that they can transact without the necessity of struggling to identify who they are."

"The proudest part of it is that we don't have to spent the billions that we've spent on all the other issues as all of you know," added Ruto.

On September 29th, 2023, the government postponed the launch of Maisha Namba and the digital ID which was to be unveiled by president Ruto on October 2, 2023.

Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary (PS) Julius Bitok said the launch that was called off due to “unavoidable circumstances."

“We wish to inform the public and all the stakeholders that, due to unavoidable circumstances, the official launch of the Maisha Namba and the digital ID ecosystem that was to be presided over by His Excellency, the President William Ruto, CGH, on October 2, 2023, at the Athletics Club, Nakuru County has been postponed,” he said in a statement.

He stated that countrywide public participation and stakeholders' engagement forums on Maisha Namba will continue as planned.

Bitok added that Maisha Namba will serve as a unique personal identification number assigned to Kenyan citizens upon registration, typically at birth, which will become the lifelong personal identity number from birth to death.