SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY HON. UHURU KENYATTA, C.G.H.

,
PRESIDENT AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE FORCES OF
THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA DURING OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE
INTEGRATED POPULATION REGISTRATION SYSTEM (IPRS) AT KENYATTA
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE, NAIROBI

11TH MARCH, 2015

We are gathered here this morning to begin an important journey for us as a
Nation.
This journey is vital and overdue.
It is critical for economic
development, and indispensable for planning and delivery of public services.
Innumerable public and private activities require credible official data for
successful planning and execution.

We live in an era of intense integration across borders and continents. Every

minute, people the world over are interacting in real time and traveling swiftly
in pursuit of social, official and business opportunities. The interconnectivity
and mobility of people has brought vast opportunity.

It has also introduced dangers and threats that were remote or unimaginable
only a few years ago. Investors and entrepreneurs can transact and collaborate
across the world, exchanging large volumes of information and money on
different platforms. This is good for trade, investment, wealth and job creation.

At the same time, the same phenomenon offers opportunities for corruption,
trafficking, money laundering, terrorism and other crime to be conducted with
similar ease. Indeed, the global nature of various crimes is dependent on the
globalized context in which we all live and work.

It is therefore imperative for Government to have the means to collect, verify

and administer data on every individual resident in our country. This is
necessary for Government to provide adequate and efficient socioeconomic
services to citizens. It is also critical in order to keep the country safe and free
from the activities of undesirable elements.

My Administration realized that as a country, we can sustain the excellent

growth trajectory we have embarked on through a programme of conscious
socioeconomic transformation. To do this, planning is indispensable.

We need to know how many people we serve, who they are, what their needs
and aspirations are. We need to know about new citizens as soon as they are
born or naturalized. Likewise, we needed to know about those who leave our
midst, when and why.

However, there was a great challenge. Our civil data was contained in old
manual systems maintained under different frameworks.

These ranged from the Civil Registration Bureau, National Registration Bureau
and the Department of Immigration to the Office of the Registrar-General,
National Social Security fund and the National Hospital Insurance Fund. These
frameworks are based on an old system dating back to the Kipande colonial
registration system and even earlier, to 1904 at the time of the Protectorate.

The multiple databases held by different institutions and tailored for different
purposes present a significant challenge for stakeholders. Anyone desiring
information on an individual has to navigate huge volumes of manual data in
different places. Verification and due diligence information is difficult. In turn,
this challenge hampers the capacity of stakeholders to detect or prevent fraud,
impersonation or other criminal activity. It also makes it costly to generate
proper planning information.

Population registration and surveillance is a critical mandate of Governments.

Every function of the State is premised on the availability of reliable
information on every individual within its territory.

Ladies and Gentlemen

In order for my Government to deliver its transformational agenda, it was
important for Kenya to move from estimates to actual numbers in all sectors of
our economy. This is why we committed ourselves in our manifesto to establish
a universal single system of registration.

This system would be activated at birth and would streamline national ID,
Voter, NHIF and NSSF registration.

We pledged to manage databases from a secure, centralized location

accessible to all Government ministries and agencies. I am delighted to
preside today over the inauguration of my governments initiative to deliver on
this vital pledge. Over the past one year, we have worked hard to develop and
test the Integrated Population Registration system.

This system has been designed to support the National Population Register. The
centralization of individual data will culminate in the development of a unique
personal identification number assigned to each file. It will also create capacity
to integrate with other registers using this number.

This is only our first significant step. It is the beginning of our journey to
ultimately turn the Integrated Population Registration System into Kenyas
National Master Database. This will provide a platform for systems to support
the 3rd Generation Identity Card system, E-Border, E-Visa, E-Passport and the
Aliens Management systems.

The result will be better quality and faster service, which you will be able to
experience at the Huduma Centres.

I must remind everyone that for this system to work and sustain its integrity,
we must be mindful of our civic duty. We must ensure that all births and
deaths are officially reported, and transmitted to the National Population
Register. We must also ensure that all aliens are documented. All Government
officers responsible for registration of births and deaths must always ensure
that this information is always up-to-date.

Because the National Database is actually overdue, I expect to see the

development of a comprehensive Master Database accelerated. I therefore
direct all Primary Registration Agencies to upgrade and automate their
systems. These systems must be capable of linking with the National
Population Register, and continuously uploading and verifying data.

The Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government must move

forthwith and register all unregistered citizens. Failing to register our citizens
limits their fundamental rights and unduly marginalizes them. We want all our
people to experience the transformation, make their contribution and share
Kenyas opportunities.

To ensure that our databases are comprehensive, I direct registration agencies

to digitize historical manual records held by them for transmission to the
Register. Moreover, Electronic ID System, E-Border, E-Visa, E-Passport systems
be implemented without further delay.

Ladies and Gentlemen

Institutions and officers charged with the administration of funds must be
protected from fraud and impersonation. To facilitate full transparency and
accountability, I direct all secondary registration agencies to promptly link their
systems to the National Register.

These include the NSSF, the KNEC, PSC, TSC, the Public Trustee and pension
administrators as well the Lands Registry. A robust and reliable Master Data
Management System which delivers high standards of confidentiality, integrity
and accessibility must be our common objective. It is your job to deliver them.
I expect the entire exercise to be complete within 12 months of this launch.

My Government is committed to running a smart, responsive, transparent and

effective Government. We are keen on digital solutions and real-time services.

The consolidation of accurate data and digitization of information is a key

component of this commitment. Our pledge to deliver accountability involves
real-time availability of reliable data to anyone seeking it.

I urge all officers associated with this project to dedicate themselves to

diligence, discipline, integrity and professionalism. I thank you for the good
work done so far. The nation expects more and better, and I know you will be
equal to the task. Do not look back.

The Integrated Population Registration System and the National Population

Register are now officially launched.

Thank you, and God bless you all.