Kenya Government starts mass printing of Huduma Namba cards

The Ministry of Interior on Wednesday announced that the mass printing of Huduma Namba cards has already commenced. 

This comes ahead of the December 12, 2021 deadline earlier announced by the government when Kenyans will cease using their national identification (ID) cards. 

“If you registered, you will soon receive an SMS notification prompting you when and where to collect yours,” the Ministry of Interior announced on Twitter on Tuesday.  

ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru, during the launch of Huduma Namba cards in Machakos last year, no government service would be offered without the card by the end of this year. 

According to Mucheru, those who will receive the SMS notifications from the government will have one month within which to collect their Huduma Namba cards. 

Interior CS Fred Matiang’i added that distribution of the cards will continue for the whole year as provided in the law governing Huduma Namba. 

Huduma Namba card printing. PHOTO/MOICNG

Matiang’i also promised a fresh mass registration process in April 2021 with normal registration scheduled to continue afterwards. 

The CS said the Huduma Namba card, which he said is fully funded and developed by Kenyans will act as the primary source of data on every Kenyan citizen and foreigner in the country. 

The integrated database would also enable use of biometrics to identify people and aid them to access crucial services offered by the government. 

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

Here are the types of Huduma Namba cards that will be issued;  

• Minors’ Huduma Card- to be issued to children who have attained the age of 6 years

• Adults’ Huduma Card- to be issued to citizens of who have attained the age of 18

• Foreign Nationals’ Huduma card – to be issued to foreigners

• Refugees’ Huduma Card- to be issued to refugees.