The government has postponed the official launch of Maisha Namba and the digital ID ecosystem.
The event was to be presided over by President William Ruto on October 2, 2023, at the Athletics Club, Nakuru.
In a statement on Friday, Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said a new date for the launch will be communicated in due course.
He, however, said that any inconvenience caused by the postponement is highly regretted.
Bitok said that public participation and stakeholders' engagement forums on Maisha Namba and the digital ID ecosystem ongoing across the country will continue.
Bitok, earlier said the UPI will come as a digital ID card called the Maisha card.
The Maisha card will have one's Maisha number which is basically their ID number.
"The Maisha number will be given to newborn children and they will use it throughout their lifetime. It will be their ID number, KRA pin, NSSF number, birth and death certificate number," Bitok said.
Bitok said those with the current second-generation ID cards that have been used since 1995 can apply for the new third-generation digital IDs.
"We urge Kenyans to upgrade to this new smart ID. It has a chip and guarantees accuracy when identifying someone," he said adding that it will be optional for Kenyans.
Bitok described the social ID as a virtual ID.
He said Kenyans might no longer need to walk around with a physical identification card.
The virtual ID will come with a QR code which can be scanned to identify the person.
Though the digital ID will not be compulsory, the electronic ID will be mandatory for Kenyans to replace their lost IDs.
He said there will also be a master database called the National Master Population Register with all the ID information of every Kenyan.
He said Kenyans won't be required to show up at any government office to give their data.
Bitok said the data will be sourced from records of births, deaths, refugees in the country as well as foreigners.
He said the immigration department has complied with the law as it tries to roll out the new digital identification system.
He noted the ministry has also come up with regulations that will guide the rollout procedure of the digital IDs.
