By Bildad Makori
This is quite a complex and sensitive 'bill' or matter that I think has been overlooked and BOOM! It has already been signed/approved by our Commander in Chief, His Excellency. It has already sparked heated debates across the media platforms on whether it was a right move by the president of the republic of Kenya given that this move will sort of deprive the Kenyans their right to privacy. Also, a lot of people are in the dark, not knowing what they'll be subjected to give. Is it their saliva, blood or urine samples? Which among these? And how and when? ...Wondering of what am talking about? Worry not.You'll find out in a jiffy.
Recently, its actually last week that President Uhuru Kenyatta signed into law amendments that will change the requirements when applying for a national Identity card ID.
The changes made to the Registration of Person’s Act will see Kenyans applying for new IDs be required to provide information about their location, land reference number and plot or house number as reported by a local daily.In addition to the requirements for new IDs, the government has now the mandate to collect DNA data of Kenyans in digital form for personal identification.“Insert biometric data … means unique identifiers or attributes including fingerprints, hand geometry, earlobe geometry, retina and iris patterns, voice waves and Deoxyribonucleic Acid in digital form,” read a part of the amendments made to the law.
Have you read that?! That the government has now the mandate to collect DNA data of Kenyans for personal identification!!! Whaaat??? Isn't this invading our privacy? I know. You also surprised as I am, right?
This move has been defended by some people that it will actually aid in curbing terrorism cases and also crime cases at large. Especially when identifying suspects linked to such cases like the most recent of all, the Dusit D2 attack. ... And so this has been overseen that it will actually help a great deal during such investigations in which truly speaking, I strongly agree with that. But here's something...
While I was listening to 2 conversations/interviews concerning this issue, there's a disadvantage that comes with this move. Its actually not a disadvantage but a RISK! Once this will be practiced or enforced, the risk that comes along with this is that peoples DNA data could actually be bought by these terror suspects or this criminal lords and use them as a cover up. These kind of criminals can actually impersonate other innocent people by buying and using their DNA data. In addition to this kind of impersonating act, paternity and marriage cases especially in regards to children ownership are also at an even greater risk and this will lead to many serious cases.
There's a lot into this mass DNA order which I've not talked about but for more, be sure to watch this video by clicking here. In as much as its a good call by the government, a consensus first needs to be reached. This is because this is such a sensitive matter that needs to be looked into. A lot of consultations and research and applicability over this topic needs to be made first.
A lot of elaboration and explanation needs to be made to the members of the public because believe you me, there are a lot of people out here who do not understand an inch on how this DNA stuff will work and they even don't know how safe their DNA data will be stored hence they are scared because they are uncertain. For real,there has not been neither an explanation nor clear elaborations whatsoever that have been officially made by the government over this in depth concern. I hope the government through the president will consider involving major stakeholders like the public and the parliament in such critical decision making for the nation the next time he does this.
And by the way, where are the Human Rights activists?@OkiyaOmtata, where are you? Or is this concern not a bad one? Hmmm...
