CS Owalo: Intention of Uhuru's Huduma Namba project was good, but...

ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo now says that former President Uhuru Kenyatta's Huduma Namba project was an excellent idea, only that there was no proper public sensitisation.

According to CS Owalo, the idea behind Huduma Namba cards resonates with Kenya Kwanza administration's philosophy, which is to simplify the access of government services for Kenyans.

“The intention of Huduma Namba was good because it was trying to ensure that we have a digital identity that could facilitate virtual transactions between the government and the public as far as the provision of services is concerned,” Owalo said in an interview with Citizen TV on Tuesday, January 10 night.

However, CS Owalo said that the timing of the launching of the project was Uhuru's blunder.

Launched at a time when Kenyans were gearing up for the 2022 General Elections, therefore raising suspicions.

"If you remember it was being launched at a time when there was also a crowded political atmosphere. So there were suspicions about it."

The CS revealed that President William Ruto's government was going to leverage on the project, to propel its 'Digital Superhighway' agenda.

 “It is the same thing we are going to do as we roll out this government digitization process because it is still imperative that we don’t need as Kenyans to go to government offices flashing identity cards," he added.