The government has intensified efforts to register every eligible Kenyan to acquire national identification card, with campaigns targeting historically marginalized regions in a move aimed at accelerating access to essential services.
Speaking during the ongoing exercise, Director of the National Registration Bureau Aggrey Maasai, reaffirmed the bureau’s constitutional mandate to register and issue identification cards to Kenyans aged 18 years and above.
He emphasized that the current outreach is not just an administrative process, but a life-changing intervention for thousands of young adults and residents living in remote areas.
The nationwide programme, dubbed “My ID, My Life,” was officially launched earlier this month by the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, Kipchumba Murkomen,
The initiative is currently prioritizing West Pokot County, Elgeyo Marakwet County, and Turkana County which are regions that have historically faced logistical and infrastructural challenges in accessing registration services.
An identification card remains one of the most critical documents for any Kenyan citizen. It serves as a gateway to government services including Social Health coverage, voter registration, passport applications, tertiary school enrollment, and even the registration of mobile phone numbers which is now a primary tool for communication, banking, and digital transactions in modern society.
In less than a month, the programme has recorded an impressive 67,000 new registrations, edging closer to its target of 100,000.
Turkana County currently leads with 25,000 registrations, followed by West Pokot at 23,000 and Elgeyo Marakwet at 19,000.
West Pokot has already received its first batch of 9,500 processed identification cards, ready for collection. While the initial timeline projected a seven-day processing period, the bureau has exceeded expectations by delivering IDs within just four days for applicants registered using the new technology-driven machines.
Beneficiaries are being notified through short message service to collect their documents at designated points.
Director Maasai urged eligible individuals who have not yet registered to take advantage of the remaining registration window, stressing that possessing a national ID is not optional but essential for personal growth, opportunity, and full participation in national development.
For many young Kenyans, the impact has been immediate and transformative.
Eighteen-year-old Hillary Mnang’a from Makutano town expressed overwhelming joy after receiving his ID barely a week after registration.
“Having my ID just opened up the world for me. I can now further my studies by applying for tertiary education across the country,” he said.
He added that obtaining the document officially ushered him into adulthood, allowing him to register mobile phone services in his own name rather than relying on his parents.
Similarly, Elphas Kipchumba from Kesogon, who had previously lost his ID, received a replacement within days. This is a stark contrast to the past, when applicants sometimes waited up to three months.
He lauded the national government for fast tracking critical documents and extending services to remote and hard-to-reach areas, noting that the distances to designated registration stations had long disadvantaged residents.
As the “My ID, My Life” campaign continues, government officials maintain that the urgency remains high. With thousands already registered and thousands more yet to be reached, the drive represents more than documentation and it symbolizes access, empowerment, and equal opportunity for all Kenyans, regardless of location.
By Parklea Ivor & Anthony Melly
