Mass registration of Maisha cards not mandatory-Bitok

Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok speaking during a previous media address. [File, Standard]

Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has ruled out the mandatory mass registration for the Maisha Cards.

In a statement on Thursday, August 29, Bitok announced that obtaining the Maisha namba will be voluntary, with the government relying on the card’s advanced features to encourage adoption.

“The current ID (second generation) remains a valid registration document,” said Bitok. 

The new Maisha cards will offer enhanced security and technological features that support digital identification.

“All newborns and individuals registering for IDs for the first time will be issued a lifetime Maisha namba, which will serve as their registration number for school, NHIF, KRA, and other government services,” Bitok added.

Bitok has previously stated that the new ID is being introduced to align with international identification standards.

The Maisha Card, along with its infrastructure—including the Maisha Number, digital ID, and the Maisha databas was introduced in November 2023. 

The card features a machine-readable microchip designed to enhance security and contains personal details. Similar to ATM cards, the microchip has a maximum lifespan of ten years from the date of issuance.