Plans for Kenyans to get new identifier by June 1

The government, through the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services, is set to roll out a new identity, the Unique Personal Identifier (UPI) to identify citizens’ right from birth.

Speaking in Eldoret during a familiarisation tour, Principal Secretary State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services ambassador Julius Bitok (pictured) revealed that the government has put in place strategies to ensure UPI is effected July 1. The UPI number will be used to identify the child in school, as an ID number, in accessing KRA, NSSF and other Government services throughout one’s lifetime.

Additionally, those aged 18 years will get UPI number instead of the current ID number while those already with IDs, will use their ID numbers as UPI number.

 “We want our people to be given UPI; it will be one number that a child will be given to be used as school registration number from primary to university. It will be used as ID number, NSSF number and on everything up to death certificate number,” he said.

Bitok emphasised that UPI will enable the government to establish digital identity for all citizens and will also enable Kenyans access government services through the E-Citizen digital platform.

The PS further noted that UPI has been designed differently from    Huduma Number, which was allocated to people from 18 years.