French Firm OT Morpho to conduct fresh collection of fingerprints from March 18

The controversial French firm behind the supply of Kiems kits used during the 2017 General Election has a made a comeback with a fresh government tender.

In the wake of a public expose that accused the company of obtaining the tender illegally, OT Morpho rebranded to IDEMIA.

Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho disclosed that IDEMIA had already supplied 31,500 biometric kits for the registration which will last up to 45 days.

"We have all the kits. They have been supplied by IDEMIA but their software has been prepared locally," Kibichio told reporters.

Interior PS Karanja Kibicho (Twitter) Pulse Live Kenya

Biometric Registration to cost Sh6 billion

The PS further revealed that the process will cost Sh6 billion with most of the allocation going to purchasing of the kits.

The remaining allocation will go toward paying the 50,000 registration officers who will be hired for the process.

A pilot phase of the process will kick off on February 15 and will entail the collection of bio data, citizenship, family tree, marital and employment status alongside the fingerprints of every citizen.

He, however, noted that DNA samples will not be required for the pilot programme.

A voter's biometric being collected during an IEBC registration process (Twitter) Pulse Live Kenya

Kibicho also clarified that the Huduma Namba and the card will not be issued at the point of registration.

"We are not saying that Kenyans who visit registration clerks will walk away with Huduma cards on the same day but that’s what everyone will eventually get in order to access services.

"In the fullness of time, will not need all these multiple cards and documents except Huduma and passport," the PS stated.