Government denies claims of electronic chips implanted in newborns

The government has distanced itself from allegations that newborns will be implanted with electronic chips as a form of digital identification.

Speaking to Catholic bishops in Nairobi on Wednesday, November 29, Immigration Principal Secretary Julius BItok said the allegations are nothing but a false narrative driven by their rivals.

“The propaganda that we are inserting chips into babies was fueled by them (vendors) as a result of the government’s refusal to take them up on this project,” said Bitok.

According to Bitok, the claims were made by firms that were unhappy with the government’s decision to prioritise homegrown IT solutions in the digital identification project.

This decision is set to improve on the existing digital foundation and promote local enterprises and tech firms by using local experts and resources.

His remarks come weeks after the bishops raised concerns over the implants calling for more public participation and stakeholders’ involvement in the digital ID rollout.

Bitok, in his speech, appealed for more time to conduct public sensitisation saying so far over 500 public participation and stakeholder forums have been undertaken with several others lined up across the country in the coming days.