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The Kenyan government has introduced a new digital identity card, known as the Maisha Card, to replace the current second-generation ID cards.

The Maisha Card, which was launched in late 2023, bears a unique personal identifier (UPI) called the Maisha Namba and has a 10-year expiry date.

The government’s decision to implement this new system has sparked concerns from civil society groups, who argue that the short lifespan of the Maisha Cards could potentially disenfranchise voters in the upcoming 2027 general elections.

In a statement on Sunday, members of the civil society voiced their concerns, stating that the 10-year expiry of the Maisha Cards raises “a lot of suspicion” and could be “a scheme to rig elections.

They argue that for holders whose digital IDs will expire in 2027, the same time as President William Ruto’s term, they might be locked out of voter registration due to not having a valid ID card.

However, the Immigration Department has dismissed these concerns. In a statement on Monday, Immigration Principal Secretary Julius Bitok said the Maisha Cards’ expiry dates do not correlate with the general election date.

“The Maisha Card features a machine-readable microchip that contains relevant security features and personal details.

Like other documents, such as ATM cards, the microchip has a shelf life of a maximum of 10 years from the date of issuance,” Bitok said.

The PS further explained that the renewal of national ID cards every ten years is a standard practice in countries such as Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Senegal, and France, among others that have implemented an ID with a microchip.

Bitok also said that Kenyans renewing expired Maisha Cards will not be required to have their biometrics captured afresh, but they will need to retake their passport-sized photos due to potential changes in facial features over the years.

The government’s move to introduce the Maisha Card is part of a broader effort to consolidate information in a master database that will manage data for all registered citizens, refugees, and foreigners using fingerprint biometric technology.

The Maisha Card has a microprocessor electronic chip with encrypted data of the holder, card serial number, the holder’s photo, identification number, biometric data, biographic data, and residential particulars.

According to PS Bitok, the Immigration Department has so far issued 972,630 Maisha Cards, and the government has acquired a modern printer to enhance the daily printing capacity to 30,000 cards, against an average demand of 10,000 applications.

The government’s decision to implement the Maisha Card system has also faced legal challenges. In February, the High Court lifted orders that had halted the Interior Ministry from processing new digital ID card applications since December 2023, pending the determination of a petition by the Katiba Institute.

The rights organization had challenged the roll-out, arguing that the government does not have the legal basis to implement it and that there was no privacy impact assessment and meaningful public participation or publication of key information about the project.

The court lifted the order and transferred the case from the Judicial Review Court to the Constitutional Division of the High Court, where the matter is still pending.

The government’s move to introduce the Maisha Card system has sparked a debate about the balance between security, privacy, and the rights of citizens.