- PS says government has been able to conduct more than 10 data impact protection assessment for the digital ID.
- He confirmed that eCitizen platform now has more than 13 million registered users.
Image: FILE
Kenyans have been assured that their data is safe as the government moves to introduce a third generation digital Identity Card.
Immigration and Citizen Services PS Julius Bitok, said the government is complying with all the regulations and legal frameworks required, to ensure wananchi’s data is safe and secure.
Bitok who spoke during the Network of Africa Data Protection Authorities Conference deliberation on digital ID and the role of Data Protection Authorities in Africa, said the government has been able to conduct more than 10 data impact protection assessment for the digital ID, with the support from the office of the Data Commissioners.
“We are not doing anything against the law, we are doing everything possible to ensure we stick to the law, as far as ensuring that data is protected,” he added.
Bitok said the government is in the process of rolling-out digital ID, transiting from the old generation ID to the third generation ID, confirming that no one will be discriminated against.
“I want to assure the country that we are putting mechanisms to ensure that we have a smooth transition from the old generation ID to the digital ID,” he said.
He confirmed that eCitizen platform now has more than 13 million registered users, meaning they are already having some kind of digital ID they are using to enjoy the government services.
Currently, the 13 million people accessing the eCitizen daily is at 50 per cent and this, the PS said, is good progress since the process started one year ago.
“We have worked very hard and made progress to ensure we push the numbers and on average, we are enrolling about 30,000 people every day on eCitizen. When looking at the entire population of 32 million adults, we are halfway and hoping within one year to two, we should have everybody having a digital ID,” the PS said.
He said with more than 16,000 services on-line, the government collects more than Sh700 million per day on eCitizen.
“Our plan is in the short term to ensure we are collecting Sh2 billion per day,” the PS said.
He added that a lot of progress is being made, explaining that when it started, the platform was collecting Sh50 million. He said the government hopes that in the next few months it can be able to get to Sh2 billion in collections per day, even as they target to serve 1 million Kenyans daily.
“No Kenyan will be discriminated against. In any case, the government has already announced that it removed vetting process for important documents whether you want an ID or passport in an effort to ensure that no Kenyan feels left out,” Bitok said.
The digital ID, the PS said, is also not an exception and that all Kenyans will be given an opportunity to enrol.
To put it in context, Bitok said there are four products in the digital ID ecosystem dubbed “Maisha ecosystem” and this involves a Maisha number that is given to the newborns and will run through out their lives.
“This number will be used in primary, secondary and also university. It will also be the same number for ID, for the NSSF, NHIF and will appear in one’s death certificate,” he said.
The second component, is the ‘Maisha card’ which is a smart card which carries the maisha number and is the third generation ID while the third is the virtual version of it which is ‘Maisha Digital’.
“Instead of carrying the physical card, you can carry your phone around and be able to enjoy services using your phone,” he said.
The fourth component, is the ‘Maisha integrated database’ having one database called IPRS, which connects the entire government and is connected to e-Citizen.
“The National Registration Bureau, civil registration, immigration, all are connected to IPRS through inter-operability so that all services can be accessed easily, without necessarily having to pick on biometrics everywhere you go,” he said.
He said his department is working closely with the ICT ministry to ensure there is internet everywhere in the country, adding that connectivity has been a challenge in rural areas.
“ICT ministry is also doing a lot of work to ensure the country is connected to the internet so that people can enjoy services in the comfort of their homes,” he added.
Bitok assured Kenyans that even as they access services using their phones, the system in place protects and secures personal data whether its access to ID, Driving license, police clearance or any government service.
Data Protection Commissioner Immaculate Kassait said they have offered advisory and confirmed that they have already received data protection impact assessment from the Ministry of Interior.
“We have also offered training and they have been very proactive in coming to us for training. In addition, we continue to do an audit just to make sure we are securing the information and that the data is in their custody,” she said.
The two-day conference brought together more than 20 countries from around Africa to engage on the levels of data protection and exchange ideas of how African needs to protect their data.