Kiambu residents have voiced their strong opposition to the proposed changes by the government on birth registration and also the introduction of the Maisha card identification ecosystem.
A public meeting was convened on Monday at the Kiambu Community Hall by the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services with the aim of getting feedback from residents on the Births and Deaths Registration (Amendment) Rules 2024 and the Registration of Persons (Amendment) Rules 2024.
Most residents were concerned over the sh1000 fee that will be charged when replacing the Maisha card, calling for either reduction or removal.
Late last year in November, the government issued a Gazette Notice by the then Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki stating that the acquisition of Identity Cards will no longer be offered for free.
“Why should we pay for this new card when the current ID has always been free?” asked James Mwaniki, a resident of Thindigua.
Another concerned resident from Kiringiti, Janet Mwihaki, told KNA that the process of getting an ID has become tedious and frustrating over time, and the introduction of another type of ID card will discourage many from registering.
“Personally, let them come door to door and register us the way they come when carrying out census,” she quipped, saying the payment being asked for by the government is also too much for a common mama’mboga’ like her who is struggling to put food on the table.
Another concern by the citizens was that the card should not expire as nationality is a permanent status.
Kiambu Deputy County Commissioner (DCC), Titus Macharia, who chaired the meeting, said the government was looking into the security matters when it comes to the new card, noting that the fees and expiry date were necessary due to enhanced security features.
“The new card will be up-to-date and secure identification systems. It will have enhanced security details,” he added.
County Registrar of Persons Susan Mutembei said, “The cost of producing the new Maisha card is high because of its advanced technology, and we cannot make it free,” said Mutembei.
Jane Maina, Registrar of Births and Deaths, explained that the amendments would introduce a Unique Personal Identifier (UPI), a single number used across all official documents, including the Maisha card, to streamline records.
“We are moving towards a digital system for birth registration, which will simplify processes and improve accuracy,” she said.
Additionally, residents took issue with the increased fees for birth and death certificates, under the proposed rules, the cost of a birth certificate would rise from Sh50 to Sh200, while death certificates would see a similar increase.
Late registration fees would also jump from Sh150 to Sh500, and re-registration of births would cost Sh1,000, a steep rise from the current Sh90.
The Kiambu public participation forum on the IDs is part of the national effort launched by Immigration Principal Secretary Prof. Julius Bitok on August 30, aimed at gathering public input across the country.
Prof. Bitok assured the public that their contribution and feedback on the process will help shape the final regulations on the Maisha Namba system, terming the public participation exercise critical to dispel misconceptions and ensure that citizens understand the benefits of the system.
Despite government efforts to defend the new fees and regulations, Kiambu residents remained firm and adamant in their demands for more affordable services and clearer explanations of how the new system would work.
The government will now review the feedback from Kiambu and other regions before submitting the final proposals to Parliament.
Maisha Namba is defined as a unique personal identification number assigned to every Kenyan citizen upon registration, typically at birth. This number will be a lifelong personal identity number from birth to death. The card will also serve as the birth certificate number for new-born babies and as the registration number for government services, including but not limited to enrolment in educational institutions (NEMIS), health insurance (NHIF), and as the National ID number upon attaining 18 years.
The new card will also have enhanced security details, including a microprocessor chip with encrypted data, which will include a photo image of the applicant, a serial number, biometric and geo-residential data, and other data.
By Sylvia Wanjohi and Geoffrey Muchem
