Adequately addressing human rights concerns remains a key issue as Kenya is looking forward to introducing a new digital identity system by September this year.

Arguments for the putting in place of proper privacy and data protection safeguards before the implementation of the system have been highlighted in an academic publication authored by Ronald Odhiambo Bwana, a student of the Mount Kenya University School of Law.

The piece, which explores the incidental effects of the digital identity project on the constitutional rights of Kenyans, says the project “presents several risks to individuals that merit careful attention.”