One million people registered for Huduma Namba in Coast region, Elungata says

One million people in the Coast region have so far registered for Huduma Namba.

Coast Regional Commissioner John Elungata said if the trend continues, Coast which is among top regions that have registered the highest number, would attain its target of 3 million before the deadline of May 15.

Speaking in Mombasa, Elungata said the region was surpassing its daily target of 66,000 and commended residents and local leaders for their support.

“We are very happy with the overwhelming support demonstrated by residents in all the six counties in the region since the exercise started on April 2,” he said.

He noted that the exercise was going on well with no major logistical challenges and Kilifi County was so far leading followed by Taita Taveta and Tana River.

He urged residents to support the programme as it was meant to benefit the country and also help Kenyans to access government services more easily.

In the meantime, the Catholic Church has thrown its weight behind the Huduma Namba initiative with Mombasa Catholic Archbishop Martin Kivuva calling on the public to register.

Elungata said adequate clerks have been recruited to carry out the registration exercise for all eligible persons and expressed hope that the number would go up in the remaining days.

“This is a very important national exercise that will enable the government to capture digital data of all Kenyan citizens and foreign nationals in the country,” he added.

The government through Executive Order No.1 of (2018), and The State Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2018, Sec. 9A established the National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS) programme, code-named Huduma Namba.

NIIMS will establish a central master population register that will be the authentic ‘single source of truth’ on a person’s identity.

Among the key functions of NIIMS is to create, maintain and operate a national population register as a single source of personal information of all Kenya citizens and foreigners residing in the country.

The Interior Ministry is conducting the nationwide mass biometric registration drive that is scheduled to run for 45 days.

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho has urged coastal residents to support the exercise and come out in large numbers to register before the deadline.

Joho lauded the government for launching the NIIMS programme saying it would enhance efficiency in the public sector and streamline government operations.

The Governor was speaking at Treasury square when he led other local leaders to enlist for Huduma Namba.

He was accompanied by MPs Abdulswamad Nassir (Mvita), Mishi Mboko (Likoni) and Asha Mohamed (Women Representative).

Also present were Mombasa County Commissioner Evans Achoki and Mombasa politician, Mr Suleiman Shahbal.

Joho called on MCAs and the county government leadership to sensitize residents on the importance of the exercise.

He told off those opposing the programme saying the world has gone digital and Kenya must move in tandem with other countries.

Achoki said the registration would help deal with cases of insecurity in the region and urged people to come out in large numbers to register.

Achoki said they target to register about 1.5 million Mombasa residents by the end of the exercise.

“We have 411 registration clerks who are moving door-to-door to register people. We have asked them to aim to register at least 200 people per day and if they achieve that, they will be considered to also be employed during census,” said Achoki.