Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho has addressed concerns over the proposed use of Huduma Namba cards in the August 9 polls.

While appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Administration and National Security on March 17, Kibicho insisted that the use of Huduma Namba was not meant to rig the polls.

He clarified that the state would not insist on the use of the Huduma card during the August 9 polls.

Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho meeting with young people in Kirinyaga County on Tuesday, March 8, 2022.

COURTESY 

The Huduma Namba Bill 2021 being debated in parliament proposes amendments to the Election Act 2011 to allow the electoral body to use information from the database of the National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS) to compile and update the voter register.

"The commission may use the information contained under the NIIMS database to compile, maintain, revise and update the voter's register," the bill reads. 

In October 2021, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) through commissioner Abdi Guliye, stated that it would only use documents that were prescribed by law in the registration of voters and during the elections.

"We are not using Huduma Namba to register Kenyans. The documents required are defined by the law. These are the national identity card and a recent or valid passport," he stated.

Previously, leaders allied to Deputy President William Ruto expressed their fears over the use of the Huduma Namba arguing that the data could be used to rig the upcoming elections.

“There are hiding behind the registration of Kenyans, yet all they want is to plunder public resources.  Foreigners have been brought in to rig the 2022 elections,” Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika claimed in a past rally.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i refuted their sentiments, stating that Huduma Numba would help improve the registration and harmonisation of the details of Kenyans.

"The database logistics and the software for NIIMS are 100 per cent Kenyan government-funded, designed and developed and solely managed by Kenyans," Matiang'i replied at the time. 

At the committee, Kibicho defended Huduma Namba stating that the NIIMS system will also get rid of fraudsters who were using various means to obtain identity cards and passports fraudulently.

An image of Kenyans in a queue to cast their vote in a past election.  By Washington Mito , Kenyans.co.ke

FILE