• Latest
  • All
  • How To
PS Bitok meeting religious leaders to discuss Maisha Namba

Irony As New “Lifetime” Maisha Namba Has Expiry Date

February 4, 2024
Former Safaricom Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Cynthia Karuri-Kropac

Frankline Okata Takes Over as Cynthia Karuri-Kropac Exits Safaricom PLC

July 10, 2025
AI

OpenAI and Perplexity Launch Browsers to Rival Google Chrome

July 10, 2025
Vivo-Y29-4G

Vivo Y29 Launches in Kenya at KES 23,999

July 10, 2025
galaxy z fold7-galaxy z flip7-samsung

Samsung Unveils Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 with Bigger Screens

July 10, 2025
DHgate Tablet Cases deals
GTA VI

Rockstar May Be Testing 96-Player Servers for GTA 6

July 10, 2025
Former X CEO, Linda Yaccarino

Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years

July 9, 2025
Apple-WWDC25-iOS-26

iPhone Users Are Not Too Happy With the iOS 26 Liquid Glass Design

July 9, 2025
Official document handover by Bernard Mwonyonyo and Habib Lukaya from Roam.

E-Mobility in Kenya Gets a Lift with New Bike Financing Program

July 9, 2025
Samsung

This Samsung Security Update Could Change How You Use Your Phone

July 9, 2025
tecno ultimate g fold concept

TECNO Joins Tri-Fold Race With Ultimate G Fold Concept Phone

July 10, 2025
Microsoft Edge browser

Microsoft Makes Edge 40% Faster in a Bid to Lure Chrome Users

July 8, 2025
Weak Checks Make Kenyan Digital Lenders Easy Targets for Criminals

Weak Checks Make Kenyan Digital Lenders Easy Targets for Criminals

July 8, 2025
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
No Result
View All Result
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
No Result
View All Result
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
No Result
View All Result

Irony As New “Lifetime” Maisha Namba Has Expiry Date

Sakwa Kombo by Sakwa Kombo
February 4, 2024
in News
Reading Time: 3 mins read
307
1
PS Bitok meeting religious leaders to discuss Maisha Namba

First time national Identity Card applicants and those replacing old ones are being issued with a Maisha Namba. This is the 3rd generation Kenyan ID that is finally being issued after many setbacks. Originally, the Maisha Namba was set to pilot in December 2023.

However, this was cancelled by a court order. In December 2023, the High Court in Nairobi halted the government’s initiative to introduce the Maisha Cards. Justice John Chigiti instructed the administration to refrain from registering or issuing these cards.

The case, filed by the human rights organization Katiba Institute, argued that the government initiated the project without enacting the necessary legislation. Additionally, the government allegedly failed to conduct a required data protection impact assessment, as outlined in Section 31 of the Data Protection Act.

Silent Launch

However, the Kenya Kwanza government has silently kicked off the exercise as it had initially planned. Kenyans who applied for a new ID or a renewal from as early as November last year are now receiving a Maisha Namba.

Officially, the government has not communicated on the matter. In fact, most applicants are shocked on receiving a Maisha Namba after applying for a national ID. .

Notably, Huduma Kenya, the government agency responsible for ID replacement has acknowledged that they have a huge backlog of applications. Very few people are getting ID replacements. Most Kenyans who applied for a replacement about three months ago are yet to get a new card. It’s unclear if the delay is related to the roll out of Maisha Namba.

Its worth noting that getting government documentation has been difficult in the last 14 months. Applicants of driver’s licence, Police Clearance Certificates, Passports are also facing delays.

Maisha Namba Expiry

What stands out is that the Maisha Namba has a lifetime. This is ironic given “Maisha” means life. According to official government documents, Maisha Namba is described as a distinctive personal identification number allocated to each Kenyan citizen during registration, usually at birth.

This number serves as a lifelong identity from birth to death. Given it’s a lifelong identity, the need for renewal is puzzling. The expiry date on the physical card becomes more confounding when we remember President Ruto stating that Kenyans will not need to carry any physical card for identification once the digital ID is rolled out.

Expiry Date on Maisha Namba

Kenyans are split on whether it’s a cash making scheme by the government or indeed, good intentions to ensure ones facial appearance on the card is updated as a person ages.

Back of new Maisha Card

In addition, renewal cost could be a factor as the immigration department did float a new rate of KES 1000 last year. This new rate was shelved after public uproar and the normal fee of KSH 100 is still in place. However, for a government keen on increasing it’s revenue streams, this remains a space to watch.

The need to rush and roll out Maisha Namba despite legal headwinds is not clear. Kenya, like a number of low income countries, often implements projects that are funded and spearheaded by global institutions.

Nigerian Digital ID Rollout

Last year, it emerged that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is advising the government on the Digital ID rollout. The institution claimed it sees vast opportunities that can be unlocked through the existence of a digital identity in Kenya.

For precedence, it has been established that the World Bank has set Nigeria the goal to enroll 148 million people with a digital ID by end of 2024. It is not hard to speculate that Kenya may have an identical target in regards to the timeline.

Tags: Maisha Namba
SendShare171Tweet107
Sakwa Kombo

Sakwa Kombo

My Bio is in my written articles.

Related Posts

KEMIS

KEMIS: Kenya’s New Education Data System Set to Replace NEMIS in 2025

May 17, 2025
Ombudsman Steps In Over ID Card Delays

Hope for Kenyans as Ombudsman Demands Answers on ID Card Crisis

August 1, 2024
Kenya's Immigration Department receives a KES 15.13 billion budget boost for FY 2024/25.

KES 6.88 billion Immigration Budget Earmarked for Roll Out of Digital IDs and UPI

June 13, 2024
PS Bitok meeting religious leaders to discuss Maisha Namba

Maisha Namba Launch Setbacks Again After Court Suspension

December 5, 2023
PS Bitok meeting religious leaders to discuss Maisha Namba

New ID Applicants to Get Maisha Namba As Pilot Phase Takes Off

November 5, 2023
huduma namba simcards

President Ruto: Expect Maisha Namba in December

October 30, 2023

Latest

Former Safaricom Chief Enterprise Business Officer, Cynthia Karuri-Kropac

Frankline Okata Takes Over as Cynthia Karuri-Kropac Exits Safaricom PLC

July 10, 2025
AI

OpenAI and Perplexity Launch Browsers to Rival Google Chrome

July 10, 2025
Vivo-Y29-4G

Vivo Y29 Launches in Kenya at KES 23,999

July 10, 2025
galaxy z fold7-galaxy z flip7-samsung

Samsung Unveils Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 with Bigger Screens

July 10, 2025
GTA VI

Rockstar May Be Testing 96-Player Servers for GTA 6

July 10, 2025
Former X CEO, Linda Yaccarino

Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years

July 9, 2025

Best devices

budget smartwatches 2025

Best Budget Smartwatches To Buy in Kenya 2025

February 13, 2025

Best Infinix Smartphones To Buy in Kenya 2024

February 13, 2025

Best Laptops for Battery Life in 2024

August 21, 2024

Best “Battery Warrior” Smartphones To Buy in 2024

August 22, 2024

Frankline Okata Takes Over as Cynthia Karuri-Kropac Exits Safaricom PLC

July 10, 2025

OpenAI and Perplexity Launch Browsers to Rival Google Chrome

July 10, 2025

Techweez is a fast growing influential source of technology news, reviews and analysis by leading tech geeks in the industry.

Follow Us

Editorials

Abductions and Arrests! Kenyan Government’s Fear and Hate of X Users Makes No Sense

Actors and Film Crews Are Worried About Veo 3 Taking Their Jobs

Samsung QLED TVs Now Officially Certified for Real Quantum Dot Technology

Trump’s Tariffs Will Be the End of Affordable Tech

5 Ways to Prep Your Tech for Resale

The Weaponization of PDFs: How Cybercriminals Are Exploiting a Trusted Format

More News

iPhone Users Are Not Too Happy With the iOS 26 Liquid Glass Design

E-Mobility in Kenya Gets a Lift with New Bike Financing Program

This Samsung Security Update Could Change How You Use Your Phone

TECNO Joins Tri-Fold Race With Ultimate G Fold Concept Phone

Microsoft Makes Edge 40% Faster in a Bid to Lure Chrome Users

Weak Checks Make Kenyan Digital Lenders Easy Targets for Criminals

  • Terms Of Use
  • Techweez Brand
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2024 Techweez - Palahala Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.
A Palahala Media Group Brand. All rights reserved.
.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
Crunchy Cookies 🍪 Ahead!

Hey there! Just a heads-up: we're big fans of cookies - both the digital and edible kind! 🍪 We use our cookies and some from third parties to ensure your browsing experience on our site is smooth sailing and secure.

 

But wait, there's more! We also use cookies to gather stats and insights on how you navigate our site. It's like getting a behind-the-scenes peek at your digital adventures!

 

Don't worry, you're in control. You can adjust your cookie settings anytime to suit your preferences. Feeling curious? Dive into our Privacy Policy for all the juicy details. Happy browsing! 🚀

Functional Always active
Listen, this legal stuff is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But it basically says we only use your stuff for what you asked us to do, and nobody else gets to peek!
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
It's those sneaky cookie crumbs websites leave behind to count visitors, like counting ants at a picnic! Totally harmless, just for fun facts. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Hey there! Just letting you know we use some fancy gizmos to remember your preferences. This way, we can show you ads that are, well, not completely bananas.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Make cookies
{title} {title} {title}
Techweez | Tech News, Reviews, Deals, Tips and How To
Crunchy Cookies 🍪 Ahead!
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
Listen, this legal stuff is about as exciting as watching paint dry. But it basically says we only use your stuff for what you asked us to do, and nobody else gets to peek!
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
It's those sneaky cookie crumbs websites leave behind to count visitors, like counting ants at a picnic! Totally harmless, just for fun facts. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
Hey there! Just letting you know we use some fancy gizmos to remember your preferences. This way, we can show you ads that are, well, not completely bananas.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
Make cookies
{title} {title} {title}
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Editorial
  • Automotive
  • Entertainment

© 2024 Techweez - Palahala Media Group may earn a commission when you buy through links on our sites.
A Palahala Media Group Brand. All rights reserved.
.