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Vol 60 No 8

Published 19th April 2019


Kenya

Big data state

A new compulsory identity card raises questions about privacy, the succession and the President’s business friends

Although overshadowed by President Uhuru Kenyatta's annual State of the Nation address on 4 April, the political establishment came together in a rare episode of bipartisanship to launch the government's new biometric identity card, Huduma Namba (literally, 'Service Number'). Former leaders of the opposition National Super Alliance (Nasa) Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetang'ula led government teams around the country to promote the card. This cross-party operation contrasted sharply with the ructions in the ruling Jubilee Party. Deputy President William Ruto absented himself from the events.

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