Kenya and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in which the country will benefit from technical and operational assistance from the UN body.
State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary (PS) Amb. Julius Bitok said that some of the objectives of their collaboration would be to come up with a Unique Personal Identifier (UPI) through the Civil Registration Department.
Speaking on Monday at a Nairobi hotel during the MoU signing ceremony, the PS said that the second objective is to come up with an upgrade of the current ID card to a smart card.
Bitok added that the government is looking forward to creating a digital ID which Kenyans could access through their mobile phones, which would lead to efficient transactions.
“We are looking forward to creating a master population register which consists of data on all persons born in Kenya, data of those turning 18, data of all people migrating to Kenya who are foreigners, and data of all refugees living in Kenya,” noted PS Bitok.
The Chief Technical Advisor of UNDP-in Kenya, Mr. Roly Davila, said that some of the key elements of the partnership are in the field of digital identity, as contained in the MoU.
He gave a detailed explanation of how the MoU is structured in three pillars that include technical advisory and operation support, project implementation, resource mobilisation, and partnerships.
“The National Identity Civil Registry and all its elements are something that we have been fostering in partnership with several development partners and the private sector, and that is something that the country can benefit a lot from,” remarked Mr. Davila.
He said that UNDP has helped more than 25 countries go through the journey of digital identity.
PS Bitok said that the government is very glad to have partnered with UNDP by sharing experiences and some technical advice so as to go through this transformation, which is a very delicate project.
“We have been able to consult widely; we have consulted the civil society; we are now consulting the UN; and we are going out there to the public through public participation because this project is not only a government project but also the project of the people,” said Bitok.
By Nice Wambui and Shamim Kambi
