Campaign set up ahead of Huduma Card launch

Devolution and Planning Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru, Kenya Revenue Authority Commissioner-General John Njiraini (left) and Mr Daniel Monehim, the MasterCard president, sub-Sahara Africa division, display the Huduma Card after its launch at Harambee House, Nairobi on August 26, 2015. PHOTO | CORRESPONDENT  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• All government funds will be disbursed through the cards, said Mr Denis Mutuku, the chief executive Huduma Kenya.
• MasterCard will work with Equity, Commercial Bank of Africa, KCB and Diamond Trust Bank to distribute the Huduma Card and drive its uptake.

By LILIAN OCHIENG
More by this Author

The government plans to launch a one-month campaign in September ahead of unveiling Huduma Card, a tool that will be used in paying for state services as well as disbursing money.

Through television, radio and billboards, the public will get to know more about the card before it hits the market later in the year. Training is already ongoing among the banks involved in the project to ensure success of the card uptake.

The National Social Security Fund (NSSF), National Hospital Insurance Fund, National Transport and Safety Authority as well as Kenya Revenue Authority are counting on the uptake of the card to bolster their services.

Huduma Card is expected to ease remittance by say NSSF members and create transparency in the collection of funds.

“It is important that we hasten and thoroughly handle the training sessions well as it is what will determine the adaptation of the cards,” said Mr Denis Mutuku, the chief executive Huduma Kenya.

VISION 2030

He added that all government funds will also be disbursed through the cards. Huduma Card meets aspiration of Kenya's Vision 2030 that calls for reforms in public services to enhance accountability, transparency and efficient service delivery.

A 12-member taskforce chaired by Mr Justus Nyamunga of the National Treasury is in charge of the technical part, ensuring that the platform that switches money to banks runs well and is secure.

MasterCard won the Huduma Card contract. The firm will work with Equity Bank, Commercial Bank of Africa, KCB Group and Diamond Trust Bank, who will distribute the Huduma Card and drive its uptake.

The launch of the card, which is set for later this year, will be a major step in the Huduma project.

The project began in 2013 with the establishment of physical one-stop shops, electronic Huduma portals, mobile ‘m-Huduma’ and Huduma contact centres.