By KEVIN CHERUIYOT<\/p>\n
Kenya Human Rights Commission has moved to court challenging the pilot programme of the National Integrated Identity Management System dubbed \u2018Huduma Namba\u2019.<\/p>\n
The government on Monday started testing the\u00a0Sh6 billion plan to register 50 million Kenyans for a digital database.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0pilot project is being conducted in 15 counties. They are Nairobi, Makueni, Uasin Gishu, Embu, Busia, Kajiado, Baringo, Marsabit, Kilifi, Kisii, Tana River, Embu, Kisumu, and Wajir.<\/p>\n
Kenyans will be required to register for them to access services like applying for an ID, passport or driving licence or a birth certificate.<\/p>\n
Mass registration of persons across the country has been scheduled to begin on March 18.<\/p>\n
However, in a statement, KHRC\u00a0questioned the legality of\u00a0NIIMS.<\/p>\n
\u201cNIIMS was sneaked in through Miscellaneous Amendment Act 2018 that made a major amendment to the Registration of Person Act, inserting a statement that provides the legal basis for the project,\u201d the statement reads in part.<\/p>\n
\u201cMiscellaneous Amendments do not give room for facilitating public involvement. NIIMS will have a substantial effect on individuals once implemented, hence ought to have been subjected to public participation.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n