Ruto Calls Huduma Namba a Fraud

President William Ruto has called the Huduma Namba initiative a “complete fraud” and said that Kenyans lost about Sh15 billion as a result of the project.

Speaking on Friday, Ruto said that the process of getting Kenyans to use digital identity cards had been “traumatic” for the people. He said that the Huduma Namba project was a “phantom project” that did not deliver on its promises.

“We lost almost 15 billion shillings and got very little out of it,” Ruto said. “We must demonstrate in the next 90 days that it is possible for us to have a Digital ID without spending 15 billion and without defrauding the people of Kenya. Those who did that should be ashamed of themselves.”

Ruto said that the government would launch a new digital ID project in the next 90 days that would not cost as much as the Huduma Namba project. He said that the new project would be more efficient and would provide Kenyans with the digital IDs they need to access government services.

The Huduma Namba project was launched in 2018 by the previous government. The project aimed to create a single digital identity for all Kenyans. However, the project was criticized for being expensive and for not delivering on its promises.

Ruto’s comments about the Huduma Namba project are the latest in a series of attacks he has made on the previous government. Ruto is the running mate of presidential candidate Raila Odinga in the upcoming election.

The election is scheduled to be held on August 9, 2023.