The government has empowered chiefs and assistant chiefs to serve as primary identifiers in a nationwide identity registration drive.
The initiative is aimed at ensuring all Kenyans acquire national documents without unnecessary delays or bureaucratic hurdles.
Speaking during a sensitisation forum for chiefs and assistant chiefs at the Bandari Maritime Academy in Mombasa, Principal Secretary (PS) for Immigration and Citizen Services, Dr. Belio Kipsang, said grassroots administrators remain the primary identifiers of citizens and bear individual responsibility in safeguarding the integrity of national identity documents.
He said the government has been conducting similar engagements across six counties, with the Coast region nearing completion after forums in Kwale, Kilifi and Taita Taveta, noting that the exercise would proceed to Tana River and conclude in Lamu.
Dr. Kipsang emphasised that the empowerment of chiefs addresses historical challenges in border and marginalized counties where vetting requirements discouraged registration.
Following the presidential directive to ease vetting, thousands of previously excluded Kenyans can now obtain identity documents.
The new system eliminates the collective decision-making process where groups of officials would assess applications without individual accountability.
Each chief or assistant chief now places their biometric signature on every verification, creating a clear chain of responsibility.
During last month’s intensive mobile registration in Narok County along the Tanzania border, the department encountered an 80-year-old woman registering for the first time, illustrating how vetting had long disenfranchised Kenyans.
“For a very long time in this country we have disadvantaged Kenyans through an exercise we call vetting. With the cessation of vetting by the president, it gave an opportunity to so many Kenyans who were excluded before, and now we are dependent on chiefs and assistant chiefs because they know their people,” Dr. Kipsang said.
Dr. Kipsang, however, warned chiefs against frustrating Kenyans seeking identity cards while simultaneously cautioning them against verifying non-Kenyans, emphasising that such actions would compromise national security.
The PS noted that identity cards are essential for accessing numerous government services and programmes.
Twenty-nine million Kenyans have registered for the Social Health Authority, while ongoing affordable housing projects require beneficiaries to present national identification.
“We don’t want to disenfranchise any Kenyan out of the opportunity that comes from having an ID. Our first round is targeting mainly those counties which were disadvantaged,” he said.
The empowerment of chiefs supports the government’s labour mobility initiative and protection of Kenya’s passport ranking. Kenya’s passport currently ranks 68th globally and tops the regional ranking, a status threatened by identity fraud.
“We are all aware of the challenges in our region of countries being given restrictions with other countries such as the US in terms of visas. If we don’t jealously protect our identity documents, then we may lapse and put Kenyans through very difficult situations,” Dr. Kipsang warned.
The Principal Secretary added that the department has acquired 300 live capture machines and 55 vehicles to support mobility and efficiency in document issuance, adding that Kenyans can now receive national IDs and passports within seven days.
“If you are doing a replacement of your ID in Nairobi and give out your information on replacing an ID, you can go back at 5pm and pick up your ID. That is the level of efficiency that we have,” the PS said.
Dr. Kipsang announced that intensive registration exercises will begin next week in Turkana, Baringo, and West Pokot counties, with equipment allocated to every ward. The department will simultaneously visit schools to register students.
The successful farmer registration programme demonstrated the effectiveness of engaging chiefs and assistant chiefs. After struggling for months using alternative methods, the government registered six million farmers in less than a month through administrative officers.
“This shows us the strategic value of these grassroots administrative officers, and that is why we have given them the powers, authority, and trust to assist us in identity issuance,” Dr. Kipsang said.
The department has also established one-stop centers for identity document issuance to eliminate the inconvenience of travelling between different offices.
In Mombasa, residents previously had to cross the ferry to access separate offices for identity cards and birth certificates.
“Starting with Mombasa, all our offices will be a one-stop centre where you can be served on all identity documents,” Dr. Kipsang assured.
By Sitati Reagan
