Over seven months after the rolling out of National Identify Integration System (NIIMS) popularly known as Huduma Namba, Kenyans are yet to get the cards.
The government had initially made the exercise to be compulsory leading to controversy from among stakeholders.
Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho told Business Daily that the government had opted to halt the rollout of the National Integrated Identity Management System (Niims) until the High court gives a direction on the matter on January 20.
“We can’t proceed due to an order from the court that restrained us from further process. Ruling is January 2020,” said Kibicho in reference to the challenge facing the State on the rollout.
The Huduma card, which was to be compulsory, was meant to eliminate multiple cards and documents that individuals carry, including national IDs, passports, driving licence as well as NHIF and NSSF cards.
The Nubian Rights Forum in February moved to court to challenge the implementation of NIIMS.
“Since the sued parties have failed to address the problems faced under the simpler registration system, introducing the more complex one will leave people from marginalised areas unable to complete registration, rendering them unable to benefit from any public services,” the lobby's lawyer, Yussuf Bashir, said.
Already, the state had released Sh5 billion for the exercise but there are claims that those who participated are yet to be paid.
Recently, the government sought for Sh1 billion meant for the printing of the cards but Treasury is yet to release following the controversy around it.
The House Committee in charge of finance only authorised Sh200 million of the Sh1 billion, tasking the Ministry of Interior to account to the already disbursed funds.