Huduma Namba registration to proceed after court ruling

The Huduma Namba registration exercise will proceed as scheduled following a court ruling on Monday.

The High court allowed the government to proceed with the National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS) which President Uhuru Kenyatta is set to officially launch in Machakos county on Tuesday.

However, the court has put strict conditions for the government to adhere to.

The State is prohibited from including DNA in the biometrics.

The three-judge bench has also ordered them not to compel anyone to give personal information to them.

Only Kenyans willing to give out information can now do so in the registration process.

The court has also barred the State from sharing or disseminating the information collected with any organizations whether international or otherwise.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, Kenya Human Rights Commission and Nubian Rights Forum had moved to court seeking the suspension of collection of data from Kenyans under NIIMS.

Human rights groups had argued the process interferes with an individual’s right to privacy.

KNCHR, through lawyer Martha Karua, said it is in the interest of the public for the court to stop the process because the government will not suffer any prejudice.

She said Kenyans will lose more money if the registration begins and is later declared a nullity.

On mobilisation, she argued that the agents are mostly state officers who include chiefs. They will go back to their work stations if the drive is stopped.