Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary (PS) Julius Bitok, along with members of the civil society of Kenya, convened a pivotal forum to delve into the digitization of identity, aiming to foster inclusivity across all segments of the Kenyan population.
Speaking during a press briefing, PS Bitok underscored the government’s commitment to engaging civil society, marking it as a crucial step towards an all-encompassing approach.
He emphasised that the forum was an avenue for Kenyans to voice their opinions and ideas concerning digitization, ultimately bolstering public trust and addressing the prerequisites for a seamless digitization of identity.
Bitok further elucidated the rationale behind digitization, highlighting the assurance of information security on digital platforms and the unequivocal inclusivity of all Kenyans in the process.
“Today we are here to bolster public confidence and to assure the public that the document we are introducing is a secure, comprehensive record encompassing all that is necessary to establish a digital identity for every Kenyan,” affirmed Bitok.
The Executive Director of Amnesty International Kenya, Houghton Irŭngŭ, articulated civil society’s steadfast commitment to shaping the design of the Universal Personal Identifier (UPI) and the third-generation digital ID based on three fundamental principles.
He emphasised the paramount importance of public safety, ensuring that the privacy of Kenyans is an inherent feature of the system.
Irŭngŭ stressed the necessity for the inclusion of marginalised communities that have historically been denied their right to citizenship.
“For far too long, marginalised communities have been denied their right to citizenship, their right to a state, and their right to an identity. The beauty of this new system lies in its commitment to ensuring this injustice ceases to occur,” Irŭngŭ emphasised.
Further, Irŭngŭ touched on the issue of public trust, citing the need for heightened awareness, comfort, and trust among the populace.
“In our country, one of the pervasive challenges is trust. Ensuring that Kenyans are not only comfortable but also aware of the implications and opportunities of digitization is of utmost importance,” observed Irŭngŭ.
Highlighting the significance of public awareness in this process, Irŭngŭ emphasised the critical role of public participation in garnering support for the initiative.
He elaborated on the necessity of enlightening Kenyans about the potential of this technology and the empowerment that comes with owning a digital identity.
“We have a working group established by the Principal Secretary, comprising representatives from civil society, the ministry, and non-governmental organisations like Amnesty International. We will maintain this dialogue to ensure that the system crafted for Kenyans primarily serves their interests, offering a new frontier for service provision, human rights, and data governance in the future,” said Irŭngŭ.
By Kamau Maina and Stephanie Ndunge
