It's all system go as Kenya is set to embrace a fully automated biometric identification system
Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on Wednesday said that going forward, Kenya is seeking to upgrade its current automated fingerprint identification system into an automated biometric identification system
"Currently, we have an ID system in Kenya that is semi-automated. Going forward we are looking at upgrading the automated fingerprint identification system," he said.
The automated biometric identification system according to the CS will go beyond the fingerprint, involving the iris as well as facial recognition.
Kindiki also added that Kenya will move to an electronic ID with a machine-readable chip and QR code.
"This should lead us to a digital Id system that will allow web-based ID authentication," he said.
Kindiki added that in the long run, the web-based ID authentication will transit into a universal, unique personal identifier that the state will give to all newborns in Kenya and it becomes their ID when they attain the age of majority at 18 years.
"It will be their Nemis (National Education Management Information System) number in school. When they turn 18, it will be the ID, NHIF, NSSF and will be the number of your death certificate," he said in February.
