Kenya is transitioning into a smart ID system with the government indicating that all children born in the country will soon be assigned a Unique Personal Identifier (UPI) at birth, the government has said.
The UPI number will later become an individual’s Identification Number when they come of age.
According to Interior Cabinet Secretary Professor Kiture Kindiki, the number will also be used as social security number, health insurance number and eventually death certificate number.
“It will be their National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) number in school. When they turn 18, it will be the ID, NHIF, NSSF and will be the number of your death certificate,” said CS Kindiki.
He also said that “In the period between the time the UPI is introduced and 18 years later when it will transit into the ID, the Ministry is working on introduction of the Third-Generation, smart and digital ID.”
The revelation is measured on the first 100 days the CS assumed power after being sworn into office.
The UPI, is however, no different from the Huduma Namba which was launched by Kindi’s predecessor, Dr. Fred Matiangi under former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Huduma Namba, is a unique and permanent personal identification number randomly assigned to every Kenyan at birth.
The only difference perhaps could be that UPI will transition into an ID whereas an individual can register for Huduma Namba by using ID. The number only expires upon the death of an individual.
