National government administration officers in Taita Taveta County have undergone intensive training on revised national identity card registration guidelines as the government rolls out a countrywide campaign to ensure no Kenyan is left without proper identification.
The Principal Secretary for Immigration and Citizen Services, Belio Kipsang, said the sensitization program, which targets chiefs and assistant chiefs, is critical in preparing for mobile registration services in previously disadvantaged counties across the country.
Speaking in Mwatate on Wednesday, Dr Kipsang emphasised that grassroots administrators play a pivotal role in the identification process, particularly following President William Ruto’s directive abolishing mandatory vetting for ID applications.
“We are sensitizing our National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs) on the activities we undertake as a government, particularly within the State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services,” said Dr Kipsang.
The PS explained that the training, which began in Kilifi two weeks ago and moved through Kwale before reaching Taita Taveta, prepares administrators for an intensive mobile registration exercise already underway in four counties of Turkana, Baringo, West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet.
The government has acquired 300 modern live-capture machines to streamline the registration process. These portable, battery-powered devices electronically capture biometric data including fingerprints, photographs, and personal information in real-time.
“What the live capture units do is take your fingerprints, your photo, your information. We scan the necessary documents and upload them to the system,” Dr Kipsang explained, adding that residents in Nairobi can receive their IDs within a day while those in other regions get theirs within seven days.
The mobile registration initiative targets 15 counties that have historically faced challenges in accessing ID services, particularly border regions where residents previously struggled with previous vetting requirements and long distances to registration centres.
Dr Kipsang revealed that the four counties where mobile registration has begun are recording response rates exceeding 45 percent of their targets, demonstrating the effectiveness of taking services closer to the people.
The PS emphasized that national identity cards are essential for accessing critical government services, including the Social Health Authority (SHA), Higher Education Loans Board services (HELB), the Boma Yangu affordable housing programme, and subsidized fertilizers for farmers.
“It is important that every one of our citizens is properly identified because so many of our services depend on identification. If you want to register a share or apply for Boma Yangu, you must have an ID,” he stated.
In a significant move to eliminate barriers to registration, the government is working to suspend the 1,000-shilling fee previously charged for ID replacement.
This waiver, which is set to be gazetted, comes after the earlier removal of the Sh300 charge for first-time applicants.
“We are also going to remove the Sh1000 so that everybody is brought on board and ensure that no Kenyan fails to get services,” Dr Kipsang said.
The PS further highlighted that ID ownership is critical for opening eCitizen accounts, through which Kenyans access digital government services.
So far, 15 million Kenyans have registered on eCitizen, with more than 500,000 users accessing the platform daily.
Under the revised guidelines launched by President Ruto in February this year, chiefs have become central to the verification process, replacing the previous vetting system. Officers now use their thumbprints to validate applicants’ citizenship, creating personal accountability in the registration process.
“It is a government officer who validates and confirms that an individual is a Kenyan by use of a thumbprint,” Dr Kipsang explained, noting that this biometric verification ensures officers take both official and personal responsibility for their attestations.
The PS cautioned that any chief found registering non-Kenyans or using fraudulent means would face prosecution under national registration and citizenship laws.
Addressing concerns about foreign nationals married to Kenyans, Dr Kipsang urged couples to register their marriages promptly to begin the seven-year citizenship eligibility period.
“It’s important that these processes start immediately. That is why we are meeting chiefs to sensitise them and ensure such procedures are carried out without delay,” he said.
In Taita Taveta County, current statistics indicate that there are 596 uncollected IDs from the NPR system, emphasizing the need for enhanced follow-up and public awareness.
Following the Taita Taveta sensitization exercise, mobile registration units are expected to be effected in the county as part of the nationwide rollout ahead of the 2027 general election.
By Arnold Linga Masila
