Raila now wants Huduma Namba registration made compulsory – Nairobi News

Opposition leader Raila Odinga now wants the ongoing registration of Huduma Namba made compulsory.

Speaking in his political backyard during a series of roadside rallies on Saturday, Mr Odinga said the new technology will promote accountability and efficient delivery of government services.

He dismissed those opposed to the National Integrated Information Management System (NIIMS) and called on Kenyans to turn out in large numbers to be enlisted in the programmme.

“The government has been working on estimates over the years and this has made it difficult to effectively cater for the needs of people in various segments of the economy,” he said while attending a funeral service at Wanda village in Nyakach Sub County, Kisumu County on Saturday.

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On Thursday, the Communications Authority threatened to block all SIM cards whose owners do not have a Huduma Namba after the registration is completed.

Communications Authority of Kenya Director-General, Mr Francis Wangusi said the Huduma Namba would replace the national IDs cards used to register SIM cards.

“Once the 45 day registration exercise is over, we shall engage mobile operators to switch off the SIM Cards,” Wangusi said.

However, the chief of staff at the Office of the President Mr Nzioka Waita and the Ministry of Information, in a swift rejoinder, said the registration was voluntary and the sim card switch threat wasn’t the government position.

He said there was no directive from the government to institute any punitive measures against those who do not register. The court ruled against making the exercise mandatory.

On Friday, President Uhuru Kenyatta said Kenyans living in the Diaspora will start being registered under NIIMS at Kenyan embassies and consulates starting May 6, 2019. The exercise will take 45 days.