Nairobi High Court Lifts Ban on Maisha Namba Rollout
Kenyans can now breathe easier following the Nairobi High Court’s recent decision to overturn its previous injunction against the Maisha Namba rollout.
In a new ruling issued on Monday, Judge LN Mugambi nullified the July 25 orders, recognizing that halting the registration process directly impacts a significant portion of the population.
Judge Mugambi stated, “Given the aforementioned findings, I grant the 2nd Respondent/Applicant’s (the Interior Cabinet Secretary) request to annul the conservatory order from July 25, 2024.”
He further noted, “Moreover, considering the findings, the application by the Petitioner/Respondent from July 23, 2024, has no legal relevance and is therefore dismissed, along with any subsequent directives.”
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At the end of last month, the judge instructed the government to suspend the issuance of Maisha Namba and related documents, including the 3rd Generation National Identification Card (Maisha Card), Maisha Digital ID, and Maisha Database.
This suspension was imposed pending a review of an application by Haki na Sheria, which challenged the constitutionality of the card’s rollout.
In his previous ruling, the High Court had cautioned that if the rollout proceeded and a violation was later found, it might not be easily rectifiable.
Kenyans have recently expressed frustration over delays in receiving their identification cards, a situation exacerbated by the court’s order to pause the rollout.
Since January, the Ministry of Interior has been introducing the new card, aligning with global trends toward digital identification, according to Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok.
However, civil society groups are concerned about the 10-year validity period assigned to the Maisha Namba cards.
Nairobi High Court Lifts Ban on Maisha Namba Rollout
