More than 16,000 national identity cards remain uncollected in various subcounty registration of persons offices within Murang’a County.
According to the County Registrar of Persons Juliet Mutitu a total of 16,436 IDs were yet to be picked up by their owners as of the end of October this year.
Ms Mutitu on Wednesday told KNA that the uncollected cards include 8,063 Maisha Cards and 8,373 second-generation ID cards.
She noted that the backlog has significantly increased compared to last year, when the number of uncollected IDs stood at about 13,000.
“The number of uncollected identity cards has gone up considerably. We are concerned because despite our continued outreach efforts, many residents are yet to collect their IDs,” said the registrar.
She attributed the pileup partly to the ongoing transition from the second-generation ID cards to the Maisha Card, which was introduced as part of the government’s digital identification initiative.
Initially, applicants were required to pay a Sh300 fee for the Maisha Card. However, President William Ruto waived the fee on March 13, 2025, to encourage uptake and ease the transition process.
Among sub-counties in Murang’a, Murang’a South leads in the number of uncollected IDs, with 1,028 Maisha Cards and 914 second-generation IDs.
Ms Mutitu said her office is working closely with local chiefs, school administrators, and other stakeholders to ensure that eligible residents, particularly students in high schools, receive their identification documents.
“We have been liaising with chiefs and school managements to help us distribute the cards to students and notify residents whose IDs are ready for collection,” she explained.
The registrar also identified several factors contributing to the backlog, including migration, death, and public ignorance or negligence.
“Some people relocate before their IDs are processed, while others unfortunately pass away. There are also cases where individuals simply fail to collect their cards even after being notified,” she added.
Mutitu urged residents to visit registration offices through which they applied and collect their IDs, emphasising that possession of a valid ID is crucial for accessing essential government services and participating in civic activities.
By Bernard Munyao and Magdalene Wainaina
