Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga has widely been criticized for supporting the National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS) registration drive which has faced massive resistance from experts who have described the project as a possible avenue for private data breach.
NIIMS will act as a single source of an individual’s identification information, National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) number, National Social Security Fund (NSSF) number, Kenya revenue Authority (KRA) Personal Identification Number (PIN) as well as an individual’s demographic information.
Raila has taken a central role in rallying Kenyans to register themselves for the initiative dubbed Huduma Namba.
Last week, the former prime minister led registration efforts in Likoni, Mombasa County while billboards bearing his image urging the public to register themselves for the initiative have been erected in different towns across the country.
Former National Super Alliance (NASA) strategist David Ndii has been the most vocal in his opposition of the project and has such criticised his preferred presidential candidate in the 2017 presidential elections saying that Raila has ‘betrayed the cause’.
https://twitter.com/DavidNdii/status/1117335914517344256
Besides raising concerns over the safety of the data if all Kenyans register themselves, Ndii has alleged that the registration drive could be motivated by commercial interests.
While in Likoni last week, Raila blasted those opposed to the drive saying that Kenya is ‘well past the analogue age’.
“To those opposing the drive, Id like to know what they are opposed to. Huduma Namba was brought to help us and that is why I will sign up for it,” said Raila.
Raila’s sentiments are in sync with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s official position on the matter. Uhuru is on record saying Huduma Namba will be the single source of truth’.
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“It(Huduma Namba) will integrate personal and functional data that is scattered in many government agencies into one single identity. it will be used at all stages of one’s life from birth to death,” said the president during the launch of the exercise in Machakos county on April 3.
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