Kenyans angered over expiry date on new identity cards

 

A Twitter user sparked outrage among Kenyans by sharing a snapshot of their Identity Card, which clearly indicates an expiration date.

The X account, Ja Konyango, revealed that the ID would be valid until 2034, prompting a need for renewal.

"New generation IDs expire after ten years. Question, after ten years, do you cease to be a Kenyan citizen?" questioned Ja Konyango.

The question triggered a flurry of responses from Kenyans expressing their discontent. Social media platforms were flooded with discussions starting last Thursday, suggesting that the government was contemplating such a decision.

Many concerned Kenyans speculated that this move was aimed at perpetuating the collection of additional revenue.

In 2023, the Head of State frequently mentioned the introduction of Maisha Namba to replace the Huduma Namba that Kenyan citizens had previously registered for, effectively replacing the current IDs.

President Ruto envisioned a system where Kenyans could transact using their fingerprint or iris by December of the same year, with the planned Maisha Namba platform set to become operational.

However, this plan faced opposition from the courts after an NGO challenged the process, arguing that there was no legal basis for the rollout of the Maisha Namba project.

BY MAUREEN WARUINGE