Software developer Moses Victor Orwa Onyango has filed a lawsuit against the Kenyan government, claiming that the newly introduced Maisha Namba identification system is based on his original concept. Orwa alleges that he presented the idea to top government officials, including President William Ruto when he was Deputy President in 2021, and is now seeking Ksh391 billion in compensation for alleged intellectual property infringement.
Orwa’s Digital Identification Vision
Orwa asserts that he developed Kenya Cyberspace_Portal in 2021—a digital identity system featuring a Unique Personal Identifier (UPI), a centralized virtual portal, and a GR code—before securing its copyright.
According to his court documents, his system was designed to:
✅ Assign every Kenyan a lifelong digital identity from birth to death
✅ Automatically terminate the UPI upon death, eliminating costly manual census exercises
✅ Synchronize national IDs with geographical and postal codes for improved record-keeping
✅ Store all personal data in a secure, centralized digital portal
✅ Streamline key government services, including:
- Birth registration
- School enrollment
- National ID issuance
- KRA PIN registration
- Health insurance and pension applications
- Death certification
Orwa’s Attempts to Engage Government Officials
Orwa says he pitched his innovation to various government officials, including:
📅 September 8, 2021 – Emailed the KNBS Director General with his proposal
📅 September 15 & October 11, 2021 – Contacted Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jr. (now Makueni Governor) to facilitate discussions
📅 November 5, 2021 – Engaged then-ICT CS Joe Mucheru, who advised him to present the idea to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU)
📅 November 30 & December 2021 – Followed up with ITU for potential adoption
Allegations of Copyright Infringement
Orwa claims that the Maisha Namba system mirrors his original innovation, accusing the government of:
🚨 Using his copyrighted idea without permission
🚨 Replicating the UPI system for national identification
🚨 Integrating key features from his proposal, including linking birth certificates, school numbers, and healthcare records
With the case now in court, Orwa is demanding justice and compensation for what he describes as a massive intellectual property theft by the government. The outcome of this lawsuit could set a precedent for tech innovators in Kenya and beyond.
