1. Huduma Namba is a biometric mass registration system
The Huduma Namba is conducted by the National Integrated Identity Management system (NIIMS) and involves collecting biometric data after which the systems generates a unique number (Huduma Namba) which will enable one to access various services.
- Your citizenship is reliant on having a Huduma Namba
The Huduma card shall serve as the official government-issued document for identification and conduct of transactions.
- Children will also be issued with Huduma Cards.
Every child who has attained the age of six years will be issued with a huduma card after their biometric data has been captured. The card should be surrendered within 90 days of attaining 18 years, to a NIIMS registration officer who will issue them with the Adults’ Huduma card.
- The particulars of birth of a child require the marital status of the mother but not that of the father.
The registration of the event of birth shall include the details of the marital status of the mother and not of the father which is controversial because it presents an element of discrimination.
- Huduma Bill does not have sufficient provision on data protection measures
The introduction of a centralized population register with the sharing of data across a range of functional government and/or private databases and users for a wide range of services and transactions presents a risk to privacy that is categorically different from the prevailing situation where the data is stored in separate databases.
- You will not be able to marry, vote, pay taxes, own, sell land or a car or transact without a Huduma Namba.
Whether you are registered or not, government services must be given indiscriminately. The government had warned that those who may not register, will not receive any government services. The court ruling has barred the government from discrimination of people.
- The Bill proposes various penal measures for non-compliance with various provisions of the Bill.
In this regard, one can face imprisonment of up to 5 years for transacting without a Huduma Namba/ card, failure to register a birth within 90 days attracts a penalty of up to 1 million Shillings or imprisonment for up to 1 year while failure to register a death within 30 days draws a fine of up to 2 million or imprisonment for up to 2 years.
