HUDUMA NAMBA

Huduma Namba: Court declares rollout illegal

Judge says roll out of Huduma Namba cards was illegal.

In Summary

•Katiba Institute moved to court last year challenging the decision by the state to roll out Huduma Namba cards.

•It faulted state for not carrying out a data protection impact assessment.

Printed Huduma Namba Cards on January 19, 2021.
Printed Huduma Namba Cards on January 19, 2021.
Image: FILE

The High Court has quashed the decision by the state to roll out Huduma Namba cards, ruling that it was illegal.

Justice Jairus Ngaah on Thursday said the state erred by not conducting a data protection impact assessment before rolling out the cards.

“An order is hereby issued to bring into this honourable court to quash the government decision of November 18 2020 to roll out Huduma cards for being ultra vires of the data protection act 2019,” the court ruled.

The judge has further ordered the government to carry out the impact assessment before rolling out the cards.

“Order of mandamus is hereby issued compelling the government to conduct a data protection impact assessment in accordance with section 31 of the Data Protection Act before processing of data and rolling out the Huduma cards,” Judge Ngaah ordered.

In the case, Katiba Institute moved to court last year challenging the decision by the state to roll out Huduma Namba cards without carrying out the data protection impact assessment.

 

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