President Uhuru Kenyatta and First Lady Margaret Kenyatta are the first recipients of the Huduma cards. Speaking before handing over the cards to the President and the First Lady during the Mashujaa Day fete at Gusii stadium in Kisii, Interior CS Fred Matiang’i said the cards, which are set to simplify access to government services and centralize identification, will be issued to Kenyans once the national assembly completes the process of the appointment of a data commissioner as directed by the High Court.
The President the handed Huduma cards to 10 recipients at the function. “We are ready to start giving Kenyans their Huduma cards so that they can get access to services in a easy way,” he said, “The queues witnessed in government offices shouldn’t be there anymore.”
The Huduma Namba mass registration exercise was rolled out last year in April, and Kenyans of at least 18 years will be required to have the Huduma Namba, while children who have attained six years will receive a minor’s Huduma Namba. Kenyans, eligible foreigners and refugees will be issued with their cards within 30 days after they are assigned the unique Huduma Namba.
State agencies will use the Huduma Namba for any information on Kenyans and eligible refugees and foreigners seeking government services. “For the purpose of establishing proof of identity, the presentation of the Huduma card or the Huduma Namba authenticated by biometrics constitutes sufficient proof,” said Interior CS Fred Matiang’i in a recent notice.