About 733,000 Maisha IDs are said to have been already issued to Kenyans, Kenyan officials say amid plans to issue at least three million digital national IDs and one million biometric passports in 2024.
According to a government official, Julius Bitok, Principal Secretary for Immigration and Citizen Services, the target concerning civil status registration documents is to see the digitization of at least 46 million birth and death records.
Bitok indicated that the heightened issuance of these documents will lead to an enhancement in revenue generated from services provided via the eCitizen digital government platform.
In November 2023, Kenya said that first-time ID applicants would be provided with the Maisha Card, marking the introduction of digital registration for individuals in the country.
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According to government officials, the Maisha Card incorporates a distinct personal identifier (UPI) number, known as Maisha Namba, which will serve as the primary and enduring registration and identification reference for cardholders.
To bolster security and reduce the risk of forgery, the Maisha Card incorporates a microprocessor electronic chip with encrypted data. Additionally, it includes features that enable the creation of a virtual ID, known as Maisha Digital ID, for individuals with smartphones.
Newborns will also receive a Maisha Namba to be used in their birth certificates and for subsequent registration in government services, including school enrollment and healthcare. This same number will transition to their Maisha Card number when they reach the age of 18.
Maisha Card and Maisha Digital ID will be consolidated into a population register to be known as Maisha Integrated Database. This will negate vetting for issuance of Identity Cards, the official said.
Earlier in February 2024, the Kenyan High Court removed an injunction barring the government from issuing new digital identity cards. The courts had frozen the issuance of the new digital ID cards in December 2023.
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