Economy

Interior CS sets terms for accessing details on individuals

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Interior secretary Joseph Nkaissery. PHOTO | FILE

Individuals and private firms looking to access information on Kenyans from a government digital registry will have to seek permission from the Interior minister and pay Sh5 per search.

Fresh regulations issued by Joseph Nkaiserry, the Interior secretary, however allow request for a long-term access by signing an agreement.

The government has set up a central database, the Integrated Population Registration System (IPRS), containing data from several State agencies and gives a comprehensive view of an individual.

The IPRS database shows an individual’s birth certificate details, identity card details, academic certificates, NHIF and NSSF details together with an individual’s Kenya Revenue Authority Personal Identification Number all at the click of a button.

“A person who wishes to access information from the register for the purpose of verification of details concerning an individual or for any other purpose shall apply to the Cabinet Secretary, in writing,” Mr Nkaiserry said.

“The Cabinet Secretary may, on the advice of the director of the Integrated Population Registration Service, enter into an agreement with a person for the provision of information from the National Population Register on such terms and conditions relating to use, confidentiality, period and nature of access to the information and terms of payment, as he may consider appropriate.”

Firms like those in online banking and e-commerce use system to verify individuals’ identity and credit history.

Employers may also use the database to verify the academic credentials of those they are hiring.

The system was built to provide a fool proof database that can be used to guard against identity theft.

“It is our mandate to Kenyans that no innovation that boosts business should be hindered by fraud and forgeries in matters identity,” IPRS director George Anyango said earlier this year.

Mr Nkaiserry said that government agencies will not pay to access the population register. IPRS had by January captured details of 35 million Kenyans from birth through their adult life.