The Government on November 1,2023 announced a decision to register persons and issue new generation ID.
However, the court today altered the said decision pending determination of case filed by Katiba Institute challenging the said decision.
According to Katiba Institute, the state has no legal basis to for rolling out the Maisha Namba.
Further, Katiba institute claim that government has proceeded with the rolling out of the new IDs without conducting sate protection impact assessment in violation of Section 31 of the Data Protection Act and the court holding.
“The maisha Number is meant to replace the stalled attempt to roll out the Huduma Namba. As with the Huduma Number, the Maisha Namba requires Kenya to provide biographical information and biometric data, including date of birth, gender, facial image, parentage information and contact information.
Similarly they are faulting the government for proceeding with the project without public participation or publishing important information relating to the rollout.
“For a second time the respondents have ignored this court’s ruling and have violated section 31 of the Data Protection Act,”reads court papers.
Lawyer Dudley Ochiel, for Katiba institute claim that the government remain intent on building the Maisha Namba on the shaky Foundation of data illegally collected and processes during the Huduma Namba exercise.