State’s determination to roll out NIIMS despite objections telling

The government has gone into extraordinary action to validate the now-controversial National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS), including through enlisting the support of Opposition politicians. In addition to Opposition leader Raila Odinga, now an ardent defender of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government, especially in the so-called war against corruption, the government has now obtained a public endorsement from the entire leadership of the former opposition NASA. After the elections in 2017, NASA has been less able to speak with one voice with the handshake between Kenyatta and Raila last year, further consolidating the divisions within NASA. However, a way has been found for the entire NASA leadership to express unified support for NIIMS.

A High Court ruling had barred certain parts of the NIIMS rollout. The ruling prevents the government from collecting DNA or Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates from any person. Also, the court vacated the compulsory nature of NIIMS. Further, the court ordered that registration under NIIMSmust remain open-ended, and would not be time-bound as the government had announced. The court also clarified that the government cannot make registration under NIIMS a pre-condition to accessing public services as it had been threatened. Finally, the court barred the government from sharing information collected under NIIMS with any other public or foreign entity.