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Explore how Kenyan civil society successfully resisted government surveillance through digital identity systems in this 55-minute conference talk from 39C3. Learn about the three-pronged approach used by community-based organizations to counter Kenya's National Integrated Identity Management System (Huduma Namba) through legal redress, grassroots mobilization, and strategic advocacy. Discover the historical context of Kenya's problematic identity systems dating back to colonial "Kipande" surveillance tools and understand how this legacy influenced modern resistance efforts. Examine the media narrative strategies that helped dismantle a multi-million dollar government project by raising citizen awareness about oppressive digitalization agendas. Analyze how over 10 million Kenyans, particularly Gen Z, refused enrollment in the system using social media campaigns with hashtags like #DOIDRIGHT and #DEPORTME, ultimately leading to the project's collapse. Understand the transformation that occurred when the new government introduced the Maisha Namba project in 2022, marking the first time government and NGOs collaborated at the same table to design inclusive digital identity systems. Gain insights into effective movement building techniques, the power of collective action in protecting marginalized communities' rights, and strategies for civil society organizations operating in shrinking civic spaces to influence digital public infrastructure development.
