The government has dispelled rumours that blood passport and DNA will be requirement for the registration the National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS).
Speaking when he launched pilot NIIMS registration at the Wanjohi Cooperative Society ground in Kipipiri sub-county, Nyandarua County on Monday, Ministry of Interior PS Karanja Kibicho also dispelled myth by some religious people that the registration was part of the 666 beast in the Bible.
He said the exercise was being carried out under the Registration of Persons Act and blood samples were not a requirement in the exercise noting that all one need was an identification document.
The PS said once the personal data was captured in the System, any county can know how many people registered under its name because the computer will indicate that.
He noted that NIIMS will relieve off people the large number Identification cards including ATM cards and other documents.
Eng Kibicho noted that Kenyans will not be required to travel to their home counties to register in the National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS) as their data will be captured from wherever they are.
Nyandarua is among 15 counties where the pilot exercise is taking place for the next five days. The pilot exercise will involve 40 sub locations across those counties.
After the pilot exercise, the PS, who was accompanied by Nyandarua governor Francis Kimemia and County Commissioner, Boaz Cherutich, said a mass registration will be carried out throughout the country from March 15th this year.
He said the mass registration will run for 45 days and the exercise is expected to capture more than 45 million people and called on chiefs to ensure the exercise is carried out door-to-door for maximum success to be achieved
Eng Kibicho who was also accompanied by his ICT Ministry counterpart, Jerome Ochieng’ said the exercise will capture all Kenyans aged from one year but added that children under six years will not have their finger prints taken “because they have not formed properly.”
Governor Kimemia, Speaker Ndegwa Wahome, Kipipiri Mp, Amos Kimunya and Woman Representative Faith Gitau all urged people to come out and enlist in the System.
The PS said the registration kits will finally be deposited with chiefs who will keep on updating the data depending on births and deaths that occur in the areas.
He added that NIIMS will help government get rid of ghost citizens who exist in its records. Kenyans in diaspora will also be captured in the system.