Digital Identity in Kenya: Balancing Progress with Constitutional Rights
Allan Mwangi Kiarie Kenya's proposed digital identification (ID) initiative, Maisha Namba, has sparked a nationwide debate surrounding its impact on data privacy, security, and individual rights. This paper explores the legal and ethical complexities surrounding Kenya's digital ID program, examining its goals, obstacles, and constitutional basis. Drawing comparisons with Rwanda's Single Digital Identification (SDID) program, a seemingly successful digital ID system, the paper identifies key challenges hindering Kenya's implementation and proposes recommendations for a responsible and constitutional approach. Introduction Identification systems have served as cornerstones of individual identification for centuries. Kenya, relying on physical ID cards prone to forgery and fraud, aims to introduce a digital ID system, Maisha Namba, utilizing biometric data for enhanced security and service delivery. Digital ID is a unique representation of an individual, organi...