MAISHA CARD: Gov’t Explains The New Digital ID To Kenyans As Rollout Commences
Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok allayed fears on Friday by clarifying that the expiration of a Maisha Card does not result in the loss of citizenship; the bearers are only required to renew the document.
In a statement, the PS defended the revised fees for obtaining the government document, despite concerns raised by Kenyans about the need and rationale for imposing new fees for a critical government service.
Regional Commissioners play a pivotal role in facilitating public participation by serving as a vital link between the government & the public. They ensure that the voices of the people are not only heard but also meaningfully integrated into the policy formulation process..1/2 pic.twitter.com/iVrjsBUwOf
— Julius Kibet Bitok (@JuliusKBitok) August 30, 2024
Most have argued that Kenyans should not be charged fees for their citizenship rights.
While justifying the fees, Bitok stated that the cost of producing Maisha Cards is high due to their superior features.
The Principal Secretary also announced that the government will launch a public participation initiative to gather public feedback on the proposed Maisha Card Regulations.
Insightful discussions at our high-level breakfast with CSOs, religious leaders, private sector reps and citizens on drafting the 2024 Registration of Persons and Birth & Deaths Amendment Rules…1/2 pic.twitter.com/dfytTfvE8m
— Julius Kibet Bitok (@JuliusKBitok) August 30, 2024
“Regional and country commissioners will coordinate the public and stakeholder participation forums on the draft regulations for the Registration of Persons Amendment Rules 2024 and the Birth and Death Registration Amendment Rules 2024 beginning next week,” the PS announced.
The PS, speaking at a meeting with regional and county commissioners at the Kenya School of Government, stated that the government intended to hold extensive consultations and address any concerns raised by Kenyans.
Bitok assured Kenyans that their feedback on the draft regulations would be taken seriously, as the government seeks to avoid the pitfalls that have plagued previous attempts to introduce new ID cards in the country.
“Public participation is not merely a procedural obligation but a fundamental aspect of our democratic system,” read part of the statement.
“It presents a unique opportunity to dispel misconceptions about Maisha Namba and Maisha Card, ensuring that citizens grasp the benefits and scope of these initiatives.”
Bitok’s update came just days after the Immigration Department announced that it was canceling mandatory registration for digital identity cards due to public outrage.
The PS stated that registration would be voluntary, as the government intended to rely on the new digital features of the IDs to drive adoption.
Bitok also clarified that the second-generation identity cards, which are currently used by the majority of Kenyans, are still valid registration documents.
On Tuesday, the Immigration Department also announced that it had cleared the previous ID printing backlog before revealing that approximately 470,000 IDs remained uncollected at various centers across the country.
The PS emphasized to Kenyans the importance of collecting the documents.
MAISHA CARD: Gov’t Explains The New Digital ID To Kenyans As Rollout Commences
