Civil Society Raises Alarm Over Expiring New ID Cards, Alleges Plot to Rig 2027 Elections

Civil society organizations in Kenya have raised concerns about the new National Identity Cards being issued to Kenyans.

The lobby groups dismissed the Maisha number issued to Kenyan adults in the new identification model. The CSOs stated, "What has been christened as Maisha number has an expiry date. IDs are critical in matters related to voting, and we want an explanation. It raises a lot of suspicion, and one can see it is a scheme to rig elections in 2027."

While demanding answers from the government, the civil societies claimed that the new IDs are set to expire in 2032, which is the same time President William Ruto's term will end if he is re-elected in the 2027 polls.

The CSOs urged the government not to interpret the lifting of an order against the printing of Digital IDs as a green light to proceed with the printing of Maisha Namba cards. They also raised concerns about the lack of transparency on the legal basis of the Unique Personal Identifier (UPI), lack of effective nationwide public participation on the system, uncertainty about data protection, and the speed at which the roll-out is being planned.

The civil society groups called on the government to slow down and not rush to introduce the new digital identity system (UPI). They asked the government to engage the public, assess what needs to be done, and institute strong technological, policy, and legal frameworks to guard against the long-term problems such a system is likely to bring.

Alongside the call for the revocation of the Maisha Number, civil society organizations are demanding a personal apology from President William Ruto for the police brutality witnessed during anti-government protests by young Kenyans.They insist that as a gesture of goodwill, the presdinet should ensure the release of those who have been abducted, drop charges against those facing legal action, and cease the profiling of the young individuals.