Mixed reaction to Ruto’s fresh registration call

By Rushdie Oudia

Kenya: The Government’s move to address insecurity by registering all Kenyans afresh in a national digital database has been received by mixed reactions.

In an exercise that is set to start in the next three months, the Government aims at consolidating all current registers of persons and development of a common data base that will bear biometric details.

While some have lauded the move, others view it as another project that will fail.

Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang’, who claims to have started the project when he was at the Ministry of Immigration and registration of persons, says the introduction of the new generation ID is just part of the process that would kill forgery by unscrupulous people.

He says the idea is a noble one that should be implemented and called on Deputy President William Ruto to ensure it is successful.

Good projects

Kajwang’ says the project had reached an advanced stage but was thwarted twice after tendering by some powerful forces including businessmen who have vested interests.

He said the Treasury was a stumbling block even after the process reached the procurement stage.

“If President Uhuru Kenyatta can get rid of these people who interfere with good projects, then the country can really achieve much,” said Kajwang.

He, however, says the Registrar of Persons should be the implementing agency rather than the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Kisumu East MP Shakeel Shabbir also thinks the IEBC will be a wrong choice for implementation.

“Let us have an independent party or a government agency as implementors and not IEBC, which people lack confidence in,” said Shabbir.

His Kisumu West counterpart Olago Aluoch appreciated the grave danger of terrorism but was against the government’s move.

Olago said the country cannot afford such a venture at this time and proposed that getting rid of corrupt officials in the Immigration department would be a better option.

Questionable character

He said corrupt officials within the department were allowing people of questionable character to enter the country.

Olago said there should be a quick cross-checking of national IDs and passport holders where isolation of suspect documents should be done to streamline the registration process.

“A corrupt Jubilee official has seen a perfect opportunity for another major procurement scam to skim Kenya yet again, which we won’t allow,’” said Olago.

Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo said ID cards do not fight insecurity but rather structures and systems do. He added that some of the most peaceful countries in this region have no national IDs.

The legislator said commitment to the original ideals of Kenya’s nationhood is what the country needs for universal prosperity, progress and harmony.

“The announcement is therefore a knee-jerk reaction by government in perpetual conflict with contemporary realities and their own priorities,” said Gumbo.

The process is set to be spearheaded by ministries of Information, Communication and Technology and Co-ordination of National Government.