•The DP's confidants sensationally claimed that the firm would be tasked with manipulating the Huduma Namba data to rig Ruto out.
•Through Principal Administrator Moffat Kangi on Friday, Matiang'i said over 90 per cent of the datasets collected have been cleaned up and matched, with mass production of Huduma cards set to begin by end year.
Image: Courtesy
The Interior ministry has denied claims that foreigners have been hired to run the Huduma number registration ahead of 2022 elections.
"The database logistics and the software for NIIMS are 100 per cent Kenyan government funded, designed and developed and solely managed by Kenyans," CS Fred Matiang'i said in a statement on Friday.
The statement came a day after Deputy President William Ruto's allies alleged that a mysterious foreign firm had been single sourced through the National Intelligence Service to rig the 2022 elections.
They spoke during a rally in Kajiado which Ruto attended.
The DP's confidants sensationally claimed that the firm would be tasked with manipulating the Huduma Namba data to rig Ruto out.
Through Principal Administrator Moffat Kangi on Friday, Matiang'i said over 90 per cent of the datasets collected have been cleaned up and matched, with mass production of Huduma cards set to begin by end year.
"The government urges Kenyans to be wary of misinformation and conspiracy theories propagated about Huduma numba," he said.
In no-holds-barred attacks, the DP's allies had alleged that the state flouted the law and involved the NIS in public procurement matters.
They said using NIS' secretive procedures was aimed at shielding the firm from public scrutiny in what they said is an elaborate poll rigging scheme.
“There is nothing like registration of Kenyans, these people just want to plunder public resources and use foreigners have been brought in to rig the 2022 elections,” claimed Nakuru Senator Susana Kihika.
Saying an elaborate scheme has been hatched to block the DP's ascension to the high office, Ruto's allies said any attempts to manipulate the polls will be 'resisted.'
“They can not steal coronavirus funds......and then plan on how you will rig the election results of the hustlers using the Huduma Namba,” said Kikiyu MP Kimani Ichung'wa.
Appearing before a Parliamentary Committee last week, Interior PS Karanja Kibicho said issuance of e-cards for those who registered will also be done before the end of the year.
He said preparations are now complete and the mass production of the Huduma cards will commence by December.
“Everybody will have an opportunity through either the mass registration session two, or themselves walking to the registrar of persons in future if they also miss out because this will be continuous process to eternity,” he said.
Ichung'wa alleged that the system sourced the foreign firm through the NIS so as to dodge public scrutiny.
“If it is about public procurement you have no business taking the procurement to the National Intelligence Service. If it is about the public registration, take it through the legal process of procurement and stop hiding behind NIS,” Ichung'wa said.
Speaking in Ruto's presence, the DP's troops asked Kenyans to reject the second Huduma namba phase, saying it is a scheme to manipulate the 2022 election results.
“The foreigners have been hired purposely to steal Ruto's 2022 victory and nothing else,' said Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro.
According to Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, the government can save taxpayers billions of shillings if it decided to employ the services of public institutions.
“This Huduma namba registration can be done by the University of Nairobi at no cost,” he said at Maparasha Olchoro Oibor, during the Maasai cultural Olngesher Lool Ilmerishie ceremony of the Matapato clan.
Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa said a national audit of the first Huduma namba phase should be conducted first to ascertain how resources were spent before rolling out the second round.
“Let them first tell us how they spent money in the first phase and bring us the cards, we can accept another session before the initial one is sorted out,” she said.
The DP did not make reference to the claims by his confidants but warned against any attempts to intimidate him.
"Wale ambao wanatuuzia, Uogo, wanatuuzia Madharau na wanatuuzia kiburi watajua hawajui," loosely translated as "those who threaten us, with disrespect and arrogance will be shocked," Ruto said.
He launched a scathing attack on national administration officers whom he accused of being used to block his presidential campaigns.
“If you are a county commissioner please focus on government development porgrammes, stop playing politics,” the DP warned.
The DP's allies made the claims a week after the state revealed that the government will soon roll out a massive second phase of the Huduma namba registration.