Kenyans to Get SMS On When and Where to Collect HUDUMA NAMBA Card, Issuance of National Ids to Stop

For a long time now, Kenyans have been wondering what happened with Huduma Namba. Kenyans can now breathe a sigh of relief as the Interior Ministry has announced that the mass printing of the Huduma Namba Cards is underway.

The issuance of the National Identification Cards shall stop beginning December 12, 2021.

“If you registered with Hudum Namba, you shall receive an SMS notification informing you on when and where you shall collect yours,” said the Ministry of Interior on their Twitter account on Tuesday.

As the Ministry of Interior launched the cards Huduma Namba Cards in Machakos last years, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru said that by the end of this year, no government services will be offered without having the card.

CS Joe Mucheru revealed that those who shall receive SMS notifications shall have a duration of one month to pick up their Huduma Namba cards.

Interior CS Joe Mucheru’s counterpart Fred Matiangí said that the process of distribution of the cards will continue for a duration of a year as per the period provided for in the law.

Besides, the CS stated that there shall be another opportunity for mass registration in April 2021, while routine registration will continue after that.

“There is an enemy called the file that we are trying to eliminate in public service. The days of lost files, long queues and wastage of time instead of providing efficient service to citizens shall become a thing of the past,” said Dr. Matiangí.

He added that the Huduma Namba Card, a fully Kenyan-funded and developed solution will work as the primary source of data on every citizen and foreigner.

The CS said the integrated database will enable the use of biometric data to identify people and assist them in accessing Government services.

“Data in the Huduma Card is fully confidential and the Government has taken all the necessary technical and legislative measures to make it secure,” he added.

Types of Huduma Cards to be issued

The types of Huduma Namba Cards that will be issued are as follows:

• Minor’s Huduma Card that shall be issued to children who have reached the age of six years.
• Adults’ Huduma  Card that shall be issued to citizens who have reached the age of 18 years
• Foreign National’s Huduma Card that shall be issued to foreign nationals; and
• Refugees’ Huduma Card that shall be issued to refugees.