Gov't to roll out Unique Personal Identifiers in September

The government has committed to roll out the Unique Personal Identifier (UPI), which will give newborns in Kenya a distinct lifetime registration number, by September 16, 2023.

Speaking in Nairobi on Tuesday during ID4Africa’s augmented general meeting, Immigration Principal Secretry Julius Bitok told delegates in attendance that the smart card rollout was tied to the digitization of government services.

He further noted that Kenyans will be able to easily access close to 5,000 State services after the launch.

The ID4Africa conference brings together governments, public institutions, international agencies, civil society in Africa and leading innovation and technology firms in the world to discuss and showcase trends in developments in the registration industry.

“As we reflect on UPI, we are very keen to identity September 16th as the day the government will be able to roll out some of the activities to support the UPI which will be the foundation for our smart identity,” he said.

“To diversify revenue streams and minimise crime linked to identity-theft, the government will consolidate and digitalize existing registration databases under its custody and promote pay-to-access use by telecommunication firms and other businesses that rely on Know-Your-Customer (KYC) profiles.”

Speaking at the same event, ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo stated that the government does not intend to re-introduce the Huduma Namba, instead noting that the State will consult stakeholders to arrive at a broadly acceptable and advanced ID.

“We will consider what works best for us as a country while factoring in all available options through a consultative approach that addresses the concerns of many of our stakeholders,” said CS Owalo.

He added that the government will provide the necessary policy and regulatory environment for technology and innovation companies to support its quest for smart registration.