Citizens from the East Africa region are set to benefit from enhanced financial inclusion following the launch of a Secure ID Card production facility.
The launch is geared towards transforming the region’s security with a more tamper proof identity card manufacturing system
The high-security, internationally certified facility located in Nairobi marks the first and only card embedding technology manufacturing plant in East Africa.
It positions Kenya as a regional hub for the production and personalization of Europay, Mastercard, and Visa (EMV) compliant banking cards, telecom SIM cards, and government identity solutions.
Financial Inclusion Fund Advisory Board Chairman Dr. Habil Olaka said that Secure ID’s entry into Kenya comes at a pivotal moment to address long-standing reliance on offshore production for critical financial and identity infrastructure.
Olaka said that by localizing smart card production and smart identity solutions, the facility delivers far-reaching economic and societal benefits.
It significantly reduces dependence on imports that have historically cost the region hundreds of millions of dollars annually, while strengthening Kenya’s manufacturing base.
Speaking in Nairobi during the commissioning ceremony, Olaka described the new SecureID facility as a convergence point, bringing together financial institutions, telecom operators, regulators, and government.
He stressed that secure, high-quality infrastructure is essential for all stakeholders, particularly as digital services expand.
“The investment aligns with the Government’s Economic Transformation Agenda contributing to industrial growth, job creation, and inclusive prosperity. It is expected to generate skilled employment, foster knowledge transfers in high-tech manufacturing, and enhance national resilience by enabling local support for banking, telecommunications, and identity systems without external disruptions,” said Olaka.
SecureID Group Founder and Executive Vice Chairman, Kofo Akinkugbe, reflected on SecureID’s two-decade journey built on the conviction that Africa can build, secure, and own its identity and payment infrastructure.
Highlighting Kenya’s strategic importance, she described Nairobi as one of Africa’s most dynamic innovation hubs.
She noted that the new facility represents a firm commitment to East Africa, focused on building local capacity and delivering African solutions tailored for African markets.
Akinkugbe further noted that while Africa accounts for nearly 18 per cent of the global population, it contributes less than 5 per cent of global card personalization capacity, an imbalance she described as “one of the greatest untapped opportunities of our time.”
Drawing from SecureID’s success in Nigeria where it manufactures over 70 percent of locally issued payment cards, she affirmed the company’s readiness to replicate and scale that capability across East Africa.
The Chairman of SecureID Group, Olumide Onakoya, highlighted the shared beliefs between Nigeria and Kenya who both believe in African enterprise, and in the importance of investing in local capability.
He described the commissioning event atmosphere as uniquely energizing, reflecting a collective confidence in the continent’s economic future.
As the first phase of a broader $20 million phased investment, the SecureID Kenya Card Production facility establishes Kenya as a credible and competitive supplier within the global smart card value chain.
With global demand for digital payments and secure identity solutions on the rise, the facility is well-positioned to bridge Africa’s participation gap, while advancing regional economic integration, strengthening industrial capacity, and reinforcing technological sovereignty.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a
