The ICT Cabinet Secretary, Eliud Owalo, has announced that the government will no longer enforce the use of this card on Kenyans. Instead, they want people to have the freedom to choose whether they want to obtain the digital identity card or stick with the current one.

The main purpose of the Huduma Number was to replace the existing identity cards, which the government considered outdated. However, after considering public concerns and to promote compliance, the state has shifted its stance. Owalo emphasized that it’s not the government’s role to compel people to register, and the decision should be entirely up to the citizens.

Some Kenyans were worried about the plan, suggesting that the new card could be issued with current identification numbers, avoiding a complete system overhaul. Owalo acknowledged this concern and stressed the importance of having virtual means to verify individuals’ identities. He highlighted that now, it’s the responsibility of Kenyans to decide if they wish to obtain the digital identification or continue using the traditional system.

Initially, the government had plans to phase out the current identity cards and introduce a new one that would combine various government-issued documents like birth certificates, NHIF numbers, and NSSF numbers. However, the program faced challenges and was put on hold after a considerable amount of taxpayer money was spent during former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration.

The Kenya Kwanza government revived the plans in early 2023, but clear guidelines about the rollout of the exercise are yet to be provided. Furthermore, it remains uncertain whether the data collected during the mass registration exercise will be used for processing the new digital cards.

The vision for the new system is to create a civil registration and vital statistics system that aligns with the demands of the digital era. Owalo stated that this system should assign unique personal identification numbers to all individuals born in Kenya from birth onwards.