Nairobi, Kenya — As part of its ongoing efforts to improve security, the Kenyan government announced plans to register and collect biometric data on all citizens age 12 and older by the end of 2014. But not everyone thinks the ambitious plan is achievable or transparent in its objectives.

Deputy President William Ruto announced the plan April 14th during a meeting with the commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). He said the move to register citizens and issue biometric identification cards connected to a national database was aimed at checking runaway insecurity and the proliferation of illegal immigrants in the country.

"In order to address the prevailing security challenges, we intend to consolidate all current registers of persons into a single national register with accurate and relevant information," Ruto told journalists at a press conference held at IEBC headquarters in Nairobi.

The exercise will be spearheaded by the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology and the Ministry of Interior and Co-ordination of National Government, whereas the IEBC will provide expertise and technical guidance.

Cabinet Secretary of Interior and Co-ordination of National Government Joseph ole Lenku said biometric registration will be instrumental in tackling security challenges.

With the new system in place it will be easier to differentiate Kenyan citizens from those in the country illegally, he said, adding that currently it is hard to deal with crime because there is no system in place to track down suspects.

"We will be able to know who is Kenyan and who is not,” he said. “After collecting evidence like fingerprints at crime scenes it will be easier to compute the data in the new system and be able to reveal [suspects’] identities."

One ID, multiple purposes:
In addition to identifying suspects and illegal residents in Kenya, the new register will also help in the government’s national planning and the IEBC’s management of future elections, said Information, Communications and Technology Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i.

He said all citizens would be required to apply once again for their identification cards, but this time adding fingerprints, a photograph, physical description of applicants, and a list of all real estate property they own. […]