Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has unveiled a series of nationwide initiatives aimed at expediting the collection, registration, and digitization of national Identity Cards as part of the government’s plan to modernize citizen services and enhance national security.
Speaking when he tour the National Registration Bureau Headquarters in Nairobi for a service delivery assessment, Murkomen urged Kenyans to collect their unclaimed national identity cards, revealing that more than 400,000 IDs remain uncollected across the country.
“Around 270,000 to 280,000 of these are replacement IDs, while nearly 150,000 belong to first-time applicants. We have agreed with chiefs to roll out a program that will see uncollected IDs delivered directly to villages and communities,” he said.
The Cabinet Secretary encouraged Kenyans, particularly those who registered in rural areas, to take the time to collect their IDs, noting that most documents have already been dispatched to local offices.
To further enhance accessibility, Murkomen announced the introduction of a mobile registration programme targeting pastoralist and remote regions, including the northern, northeastern, and coastal parts of the country.
“We are working very hard to ensure that first-time registration and replacements happen in record time. The mobile program, starting next week, will ensure that Kenyans who have been left out for many years finally obtain their national IDs,” he said.
At the same time, Murkomen indicated that the government is accelerating the digitization of the registration process through the deployment of live capture machines nationwide.
“We are procuring 300 live capture machines to support mobile registration in the next two to three months, and our goal is to equip all 1,450 wards with these machines,” he explained.
Murkomen noted that the new digital system will enable real-time data capture, verification, and instant ID processing, thereby eliminating the need to transport paperwork from villages to Nairobi.
“When I registered for my third-generation ID, the MAISHA number, I received it within five minutes. This shows that the new system will drastically cut processing times,” he remarked.
The Interior Ministry also plans to increase technical and ICT staff and invest in capacity-building programmes over the next year to ensure faster, more reliable service delivery.
Murkomen assured Kenyans that the reforms align with the ongoing IEBC voter registration exercise, reiterating that obtaining an ID now will allow citizens to fully participate in the democratic process.
“Even as the IEBC conducts mass voter registration, this is your time to get your ID in record time. Come forward, get your ID, and ensure you can register as a voter,” he urged.
The Cabinet Secretary added that the government is also registering foreign nationals (aliens) and refugees to enhance accountability and service delivery.
“We are documenting all aliens in the country to ensure they are properly registered, accounted for, and can access services using alien IDs. Similarly, all refugees will be registered to ensure they can access the services due to them and to make it easier to manage and monitor their stay in Kenya,” Murkomen stated.
He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to ensuring that every person residing in Kenya is properly identified, documented, and able to access essential services through a streamlined and secure registration system.
