Millions of Africans Locked Out of Services as Biometric Digital IDs Raise Privacy and Access Concerns
NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 10 - Millions of Africans are unable to access essential services, including healthcare, education, social protection payments, and Kenya breaking news | Kenya news today |..
✨ Key Highlights
A new report by the African Digital Rights Network (ADRN) warns that millions of Africans are being locked out of essential services due to the imposition of biometric digital-ID systems across the continent, raising significant privacy and access concerns.
- These systems, costing an estimated US$1 billion continent-wide, require citizens to provide personal and biometric information with limited legal protection.
- Tony Roberts, Research Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies, highlighted that fundamental rights like education and healthcare are becoming conditional on enrollment in these systems.
- Paradigm Initiative Executive Director Gbenga Sesan expressed concerns about data breaches and the use of personal data to surveil critics, leading to public mistrust.
- Marginalized groups, including people with disabilities and rural populations, face additional barriers to enrollment, such as the cost of mobile data and access to electricity.
- Kenya's Maisha Namba program has faced criticism for privacy risks and legal ambiguities.
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Concerns Raised Over Digital Access, Data Privacy, and Biometric IDs - December 2025
The Consumers Federation of Kenya (Cofek) has raised concerns regarding the US–Kenya Health Cooperation Framework, citing potential data-privacy and sovereignty risks for Kenyans. In a separate issue concerning digital rights, a new report by the African Digital Rights Network (ADRN) warns that millions of Africans are being locked out of essential services due to the imposition of biometric digital-ID systems, which raise significant privacy and access concerns. Addressing another form of digital barrier, Nairobi-based advocate Francis Wanjiku has petitioned Chief Justice Martha Koome to remove geo-restrictions on the Judiciary’s e-filing and cause-list portals. Wanjiku argues that the current system disadvantages millions of Kenyans living or traveling abroad. Cofek is pushing for stronger safeguards and consumer representation to be included in the health agreement's governance.
