Maisha Namba, Kenya's digital identification initiative, is a project by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Its primary goal you will think is to enhance identification processes and improve citizens' access to essential services. But with sure a digital id that remains throughout the life circle of the bearer alot can happen in-between.
We will look at the merits, demerits and application.
Merits
1. Improved Access to Services:
- Maisha Namba assigns a unique identification number to every citizen, linked to a digital card.
- Newborns benefit from this system by having their IDs connected to health records and vaccination histories, streamlining access to healthcare services.
2. Efficient Record-Keeping:
- The initiative aims to enhance government record-keeping.
- Improved record-keeping facilitates policy planning and resource allocation, potentially leading to better social programs.
3. Technological Advancement:
- Maisha Namba leverages biometric data (such as fingerprints and iris scans).
- This modernizes identification processes, reducing reliance on physical documents and enhancing security.
Demerits
1. Privacy Concerns:
- Apart from critics concern, the Maisha Namba will definitely infringe on personal privacy. As Government officials will use it as a means of monitoring and tracking of individuals
2. Public Skepticism:
- Many citizens express distrust in the government's ability to effectively implement Maisha Namba.
- Concerns are particularly pronounced in areas with poor infrastructure, where doubts persist about equitable access.
3. Surveillance Risks:
- The integration of biometric data raises surveillance and control concerns.
- Citizens worry about potential privacy violations and increased state monitoring.
Applications:
The Maisha Namba is applied at birth to newly born children. A chip is injected in the body of the newly born that last through his life time.
At 18 the chip is used as an ID to identify render Government services. The individual cannot remove the chip or deactivate it, it becomes part of its system.
In summary, while Maisha Namba holds promise and fear for modernizing identification in Kenya, addressing ethical and practical challenges is crucial for its successful implementation.
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