Huduma Namba case to be heard by three-judge bench

The implementation of the National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS) also dubbed ‘Huduma Namba’ case will now be heard by a three-judge bench.

This is after High Court Judge Weldon Korir said that the case raises serious constitutional matters of law that need to be heard by a three judge bench.

The file challenging NIIMS has now been referred to Chief justice David Maraga to empanel a bench to hear the case.

Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) moved to court to challenge the new law requiring Kenyans to give personal information for digital registration, arguing that there is no assurance that the system is hack-proof.

In the petition, the lobbyists claim the law empowers the State to collect data, including DNA but does not guarantee safety and protection of the information.

A section of Kenyan lawyers have also questioned the Government’s motive behind the newly launched Huduma Namba exercise.

According to them, data on Kenyan citizens already exists from birth certificates, IDs, passports and even voters card registration.

In the National Integrated Identity Management System (NIMS), one has to get a unique identification number known as Huduma Namba and have their biometric data (fingerprints) recorded.

NIIMS is also set to capture a person’s data: age, gender, level of education, marital status, place of residence, source of livelihood and others.