Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen says Kenyans will soon access their national ID via a digital Maisha Card on their phones, with no rollout date given yet.
Kenyans will soon be able to access their national identity card straight from their phones, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has announced, as the government pushes ahead with plans to digitise key identification services.
What Murkomen Said
Speaking during a women empowerment event in Uasin Gishu on Saturday, June 27, Murkomen revealed that the government is preparing to roll out a digital version of the Maisha Card, allowing citizens to carry their ID on their smartphones instead of relying solely on the physical document.
"Very soon we are going to announce to you maisha card which will be digital. You will have your id on your phone," Murkomen stated.
How It Will Work
According to the CS, the digital ID is designed to solve a common problem: losing your physical card. Under the new system, a lost ID will no longer mean being stranded without proof of identity.
"Even if it is lost, you just get the one on your phone and show it. There is a barcode that will be scanned and show who you are and what you do. That is the next step," he added.
The barcode-based verification system would let officials or service providers scan the digital ID directly from a phone screen to confirm a person's identity and details, similar to how digital boarding passes or e-tickets work.
Part of Wider Government Digitisation Push
Murkomen framed the digital Maisha Card as part of broader reforms aimed at simplifying how Kenyans access identification and government services, reducing the heavy dependence on physical documents that has long slowed down service delivery at government offices.
No Timeline Yet
Despite the announcement, Murkomen did not give a specific date for the rollout or explain what registration process Kenyans will need to follow to get set up on the digital system. He only indicated that the programme "will be launched very soon."