Nairobi, Kenya – President Ruto: Kenyans will transact using fingerprints and iris by December 2023
“I have been assured by all the stakeholders led by the Ministries concerned that by December we will be able to launch the digital IDs where every Kenyan don’t have to carry any paper plastic or otherwise as an ID,”
he said.
President Ruto stated that the planned rollout was on course saying the commencement of the use of the digitized model of national identification is progressive
“Kenyans will be able to be identified digitally using their iris or fingerprints and we can transact without the necessity of people struggling to identify who they are,”
the President noted
Kenyan President William Ruto has announced that Kenyans will be able to transact using fingerprints and iris by December 2023 when the Digital ID platform dubbed the Maisha Number becomes operational.
How it will work
The Maisha Number will replace the current national IDs and will incorporate all personal detailed identifier data including Birth Certificate, death certificate, Maisha card as well and driver’s license among others. Newborn children will be assigned a distinct number that will serve as their birth certificate number and later as an identification number for all government services, including registration of death.
The Maisha Number will feature a Machine-Readable Zone, conforming to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. This master database will manage data for all registered citizens, refugees, and foreigners using fingerprint biometric technology. The digitized identification will enable Kenyans to be identified digitally using their iris or fingerprints, and they can transact without the necessity of carrying any paper plastic or otherwise as an ID. The digital ID system is currently in a two-month testing phase and will be ready by December.
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