Miguna Miguna, a prominent lawyer in Kenya, has spoken out against the introduction of the National Digital ID system, expressing various major issues regarding its suitability and the country's readiness.
Miguna cited recent issues with the cryptocurrency project Worldcoin, where personal data was gathered from Kenyan individuals without authorization for over a year, as evidence of the country's vulnerabilities.
I OPPOSE THE IMPOSITION of the NATIONAL DIGITAL ID IN KENYA.
Did you read this?
— Dr. Miguna Miguna (@MigunaMiguna) September 13, 2023
First, it’s not a priority for a 3rd world country facing high unemployment, no universal healthcare and homelessness.
Second, Kenya lacks the legal, technological and human capacity to PROTECT PRIVACY and PREVENT…
“It’s not a priority for a 3rd world country facing high unemployment, no universal healthcare, and homelessness,” He Miguna.
"Kenyans deserve to have clean running water, electricity, food, and healthcare per household before anyone lectures us about digital identification."
“Kenya lacks the digital infrastructure to prevent cyber attacks, including hacking, hence making the harvesting, processing, and storage of digital identity prone to abuse and illegal poaching,” he added.
He highlighted worries about the rushed implementation process, drawing parallels with earlier projects such as BBI Fraud and Huduma Number, which had sparked public concern, saying, "Anything shrouded in mystery and rushed cannot pass the smell test."
He pointed out that even technologically advanced countries such as Canada and the United States had not implemented mandatory digital identity systems due to broad opposition, noting identical issues voiced in Kenya.
"And fifth, even some of the most technologically developed countries like Canada and the USA haven’t introduced COMPULSORY DIGITAL IDENTIFICATION system because most of their citizens are opposed to its use due to some of the issues identified above."
The lawyer's comment embodies the feelings of many Kenyans on X who share his concerns about the National Digital ID's implementation and have urged for a re-evaluation of its usefulness and repercussions in a country facing a slew of serious difficulties.
