| dc.description.abstract | Nairobi being a highly populated and cosmopolitan city has faced personal identification
challenges due to the influx of people from other countries, impersonation, increased criminal
activities, identification of disaster victims, urban refugees, and asylum seekers, and lack of
identification documents. The problem of the study was the identification crisis and challenges
due to the influx of people into Nairobi City County. The overall objective of this study was to
examine the implications of biometrics technology in the management of identity-based conflicts
in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The specific objectives were to: identify the nature and extent of
identity-based conflicts in Nairobi; examine the effectiveness of biometric modalities used in the
management of identity-based conflicts in Nairobi; assess the challenges and opportunities of
biometric modalities employed in the management of identity-based conflicts in Nairobi. The
research was guided by Conflict Theory and Diffusion of Innovation Theory. The research used
descriptive design which is key in increasing the researcher’s familiarity with the problem,
gathering information about practical problems, clarifying concepts and formulating a problem for
more precise investigation. The researcher targeted a population of 300 respondents; National
Government Administration Officers (NGAO) 30, Police officers 20, Registration Officers 30,
Forensic officers 10, Fingerprint Officers 80, Huduma Centre staff 60, National Hospital Insurance
Fund (NHIF) Data officers 30, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC)
Officers 20, Identity Conflict victims 20 spread across Nairobi City County. A quota sampling
technique was used based on the officers dealing with biometrics, grouped into series and a
minimum number was selected for each set. In addition, purposive sampling was employed and
snowball sampling was used to get information from the victims of identity-based conflicts. The
sample size was 171. The study utilized both primary and secondary data. Primary data focused
on the use of questionnaires, and observation checklists for officers dealing with biometrics and
in-depth interviews for identity-based conflict victims. Secondary data was obtained from journals
and books. Data analysis was done by use of qualitative and quantitative techniques. The Statistical
Package for Social Scientists version was used to analyze the data and presented in tables. The
study revealed fraud, impersonation, political conflicts, terrorism and cadavers were major sources
of identity-based conflicts in Nairobi. Biometrics used in place included fingerprints, face
recognition, Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA), iris and signature. The study revealed that biometrics
offered solutions to the timely provision of identification documents and uniquely identifying
individuals within Nairobi City County by 51.5% hence solving the identity-based conflict. The
study revealed that 40% of government agencies mainly use fingerprints as a key biometric
modality in managing identity-based conflicts. Although the Immigration and Registration Act
CAP 107 authorizes the use of biometrics in Kenya as a single source of truth on personal identity,
53.33% of respondents argued that the government does not have a clear policy on the use of
biometrics. The study concludes that biometrics is effective in the management of identity-based
conflicts in Nairobi. The study recommends that stakeholder consultative processes be adopted to
seek further ways of strengthening existing policies. Furthermore, a biometrics body be formed to
encourage research and informed decisions in terms of biometric use in identity-based conflicts.
This will help in identifying the loopholes that cause identity-based conflicts and formulate
protection mechanisms in service deliveries through the use of biometrics. It further recommends
that the government incorporates other biometric modalities such as iris and DNA in personal
identification. | en_US |
