Court Suspends Suspension of Digital ID Cards

The state has received relief as the court has lifted the orders that suspended the rollout of Maisha Namba, the new digital identity cards.

Justice John Chigiti has reversed the previous order issued in December, following the revelation of a similar case filed in another court division. He directed that the case filed by Katiba Institute against CS Interior Kithire Kindiki be transferred to the constitutional division of the High Court for resolution.

Concerns were raised by the ministry’s legal representatives, Morara, Apiemi, and Nyangito Advocates, about the potential for conflicting decisions from different divisions due to two separate cases addressing the same issues. Another petition, lodged by Dr. Fredrick Onyango, is currently awaiting resolution in the constitutional court.

During the proceedings, Kindiki’s legal team argued that Katiba Institute had not disclosed the existence of the other petition and requested the court to nullify the orders issued on December 4. On that date, Chigiti had issued an injunction halting the implementation of Maisha Namba until a data protection impact assessment had been conducted.