A Civil Society group has moved to court to stop the introduction of the new digital identity system (UPI) to Kenyans.
The group named Operation Linda Jamii, led by its Chairperson Professor Fredrick Ogola argue that the government is contravening the constitution adding that there was no public participation.
“Unique Personal Identifiers known as Digital ID is yet to be rolled out and the Taxpayers’ money is to be used in driving the implementation of this project. “He added.
Ogola wants the court to bar the government from proceeding further with any act and/or process of rolling out the Unique Personal Identifier known as Digital ID,” reads one of the orders that they seek.
They argue that the government had already spent 11 billion shillings on the Huduma Namba project which did not benefit Kenyan’s.
“We are seeking a permanent injunction barring the Respondents from having servers of the Huduma Namba project or any other project in a foreign land as they are intending to do in Pakistan, “added Ogola.
The activist wants a declaration that the roll out of Unique Personal Identifiers is unconstitutional because it interferes with prudent utilization of public funds and resources as provided under Article 201 and 227 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010.
He wants the court to suspend the process of rolling out the Digital Identity Cards pending the hearing and determination of the petition.
Linda Jamii also wants the court to issue an order directing the Ministry of Interior and that of Information to avoid abandoning the Huduma Namba which cost the government a lot of taxpayers money, instead modify the areas of the Huduma Namba that the trial Court found to be illegal and still use it because there is no difference between the Unique Personal Identifier and Huduma Namba.
It is their argument that these actions by the Interior and Ministry of information violate Article 1 of the Constitution which provides for Sovereignty of the people.
