Could State have lied when urging Kenyans to register for Huduma Namba?

Kenyans queue during Huduma Namba registration at the General Post Office, Nairobi in May 2019. [David Gichuru, Standard]

During the months leading up to the Huduma Namba registration exercise early this year, State officials led by Cabinet secretaries Joe Mucheru and Fred Matiang’i were vocal on the importance of the exercise.

They said the system was good for national planning and the integrity of Kenyans’ personal data collected. “For anyone below 18, all they have is their birth certificates,” said Mr Mucheru during a television interview in the days leading up to the launch of the registration programme.