New IDs to cost taxpayers Sh8bn

16 Apr 2014

Up to Sh8 billion will be spent to register Kenyans afresh as part of a government drive to create an online database of all citizens.

Computerized identification details would be obtained on all Kenyans above the age of 12 and stored in the database that can be retrieved by public institutions.

Citizens will be required to provide details of their current identification cards, the date and area of birth, fingerprints and photos.

Information Communication and Technology Principal Secretary Joseph Tiampati said money to fund the project will be set aside in the next budget to be read in June. The estimates will be tabled in Parliament in two months.

The process is scheduled to start in June and is expected to be complete in six months.

“We have a big identification gap especially for Kenyans below the  age of 18. What we are seeking to do is build a database that can give you full information about a person including where they live, what they own and what services they have access to,” Mr Tiampati said. He was speaking on Tuesday during the launch of the ongoing Connected Kenya Summit in Diani, Kwale County.

During the event, a revised ICT master plan that integrates the national government’s ICT strategy with that of counties was launched.

The government expects the project to help it plan better and curb rising insecurity.  An inter-ministerial committee spearheaded by the Interior Ministry has been put in place to oversee implementation of the plan.

Information Communication and Technology Authority chief executive Victor Kyalo said the project was part of a bigger plan to computerize all government operations.

The national registry will be linked to other registries including that of land. It will could help identify foreigners who may have corruptly acquired identification documents.

Adapted from Daily Nation

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