The residents of Murang’a South sub-county have embraced the new Maisha Card that is set to replace the current identification document but want the charges reviewed downwards.
They spoke during a public participation forum organised by the State Department for Immigration at the DCC hall in Kenol.
They noted that if the amendments pass as they are proposed, the majority of the most vulnerable in society will be locked out.
During the forum chaired by Deputy County Commissioner Gitonga Murungi, the residents welcomed the changes but noted that the registration fee of Sh1000 was too high and would lock out the poor, orphaned, and most vulnerable in the society who have no means of survival.
“Why should we pay for a service that was initially free considering the low-income individuals and physically challenged persons who cannot afford the replacement or the application fee?” posed Samuel Maina
“We also have people on the streets and the elderly, and this fee might exacerbate existing inequalities,“ he added.
The DCC noted that the new system will help enhance security and safeguard the public against the rising cases of crime through document forgery and impersonation.
“The digitised system of registration will help battle the daily rising numbers of fraudsters who tend to duplicate and tamper with personal information,” he said.
“It will not only ease the government`s work of providing essential services but also reduce delays as citizens can have instant access to their documents as it improves efficiency,” he added.
George Gachie, the Sub County Registrar of Persons, explained that the amendments would introduce a Unique Personal Identifier (UPI) that will streamline all official records.
“The new Maisha Namba is an initiative that aims to streamline various government services, including healthcare and social benefits, through a unified, unique personal identification system (UPI),” he said.
He further acknowledged the residents’ concerns, noting that the government would explore possible solutions to ensure that the benefits of the Maisha Namba are accessible equally to all Kenyans of all walks of life.
Gachie reassured residents that the database can only be accessed by the government system but also limited information to the third party, hence their privacy.
“On the expiry of the Maisha card after 10 years, this will pave the way for rectifications of one’s personal information for wellbeing where necessary, “he added.
The new application fee will be Sh300 for the new ID, which was initially issued for free, and a replacement fee of Sh1000 from the initial Sh100.
By Florence Kinyua and Daisy Waithera
