A section of Kenyans have reacted with suspicion to a new order issued by President Uhuru Kenyatta- requiring every citizen to have a Huduma Number before accessing any government service.
In January, President Kenyatta announced the state’s plan to have a central database of all citizens.
He added that all Kenyans would be granted a compulsory unique number known as a Huduma Number which will be generated by the National Integrated Identity Management System (NIIMS).
The government has warned that several services will be frozen until citizens acquire the Huduma Number.
What you will not access without Huduma Number
“A person without Huduma Number will not access government services including registration or renewal or replacement of National Identification Card; Application for a Passport; Application or renewal for driving license, Birth certificate; Application for NHIF, NSSF; Enroll for cash transfer for the elderly, subsidized farm inputs and other cash services under the Big 4 agenda like affordable housing among others,” read a part of the statement in regards to the new system.
However, some religious leaders and fanatics have started likening the Huduma Number to the biblical mark of the beast – 666.
In Revelation, 666 is a number, or name, of the wild beast with seven heads and ten horns that comes out of the sea.
The Mark of the Beast
The beast represents the antichrist and is described as a symbol of the worldwide political system, which rules over “every tribe and people and tongue and nation.
The rumours have forced some of the government communication strategists to come out and dismiss the 666 narrative.
“#HudumaNamba will be compulsory. Chiefs will take lead in the process. For those who believe this will be 666, I don’t know what to say to you. Maybe that you have a very imaginative mind ? See, we are supposed to apply technology to make things easier, even service delivery,” government blogger Pauline Njoroge posted on twitter.
The truth, however, is that the Huduma Number is aimed at capturing all personal data into one source that would enhance service delivery and make it easier for security personnel to fight crime.