ID card renewal every 10 years is standard in countries like France: PS Bitok

The Immigration Department has dismissed concerns by civil society groups regarding new identity cards being rolled out by the government, which expire after ten years.

Maisha Cards were introduced in late 2023 to replace the current second-generation ID cards. They bear one’s digital unique personal identifier (UPI) known as Maisha Namba.

The UPI is issued upon birth as a birth certificate number and the Maisha Card, issued when one reaches 18 years of age, is essentially a smart card with a digital signature tied to the master national population register.

On Sunday, members of the civil society raised alarm over the Maisha Cards’ shelf life, saying it raises "a lot of suspicion and one can see it is a scheme to rig elections.”

They raised concerns that for holders whose digital IDs will expire in 2032, the same time President William Ruto’s term will end if he is re-elected in the 2027 polls, they might be locked out of registering as voters for not having valid ID cards.

In a statement on Monday, Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok however said Maisha Cards’ expiry dates do not correlate with the general election date.

“The Maisha Card features a machine-readable microchip that contains relevant security features and personal details. Like other documents, such as ATM cards, the microchip has a shelf life of a maximum of 10 years from the date of issuance,” Bitok said.

The PS said the renewal of national ID cards every ten years “is a standard practice in countries such as Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Senegal, and France, among others that have implemented an ID with a microchip.”

According to Bitok, Kenyans renewing expired Maisha Cards will not be required to have their biometrics captured afresh.

“However, they will retake their passport-sized photos due to potential changes in facial features over the years,” he said.

“The National Registration Bureau appreciates the importance of the National ID Card as a constitutional right and an essential identification document and will strive to ensure eligible Kenyans obtain it as soon as possible,” Bitok added, noting that the government has acquired a modern printer to enhance daily printing capacity to 30,000 cards, against an average demand of 10,000 applications.

In February, the High Court lifted orders that had halted the Interior Ministry from processing new digital ID card applications since December 2023, pending the determination of a petition by the Katiba Institute.

The rights organisation had challenged the roll-out arguing that the government does not have the legal basis to implement it and that there was no privacy impact assessment and meaningful public participation or publication of key information about the project.

The court lifted the order and transferred the case from the Judicial Review Court to the Constitutional Division of the High Court.

Maisha Namba will serve as the newborn's birth certificate number and be used for registration to educational institutions and services like the Social Health Insurance Fund, which recently replaced NHIF.

Once they reach 18 years of age, they will use the identifier to access government services from the Kenya Revenue Authority and the National Social Security Fund.

The government seeks to consolidate the information in a master database that will manage data for all registered citizens, refugees, and foreigners using fingerprint biometric technology.

The Maisha Card has a microprocessor electronic chip with encrypted data of the holder, card serial number, the holder’s photo, identification number, biometric data, biographic data, and residential particulars.

According to PS Bitok, the Immigration Department has so far issued 972,630 Maisha Cards.

The government last year said the project would cost Ksh.1 billion.