The government has implemented significant changes to national identity card processing, allowing new applicants to obtain their documents within just one day, representing a notable enhancement in service delivery and addressing long-standing delays.
Immigration Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang stated that these changes result from substantial investments in modern technology, which has simplified the application and manufacturing procedures nationwide.
During an interview on Friday, April 3, Kipsang disclosed that Nairobi applicants can now receive their IDs the same day they apply, a move anticipated to facilitate access to essential services.
For residents outside the capital, the processing period has also been considerably shortened, with applicants expected to receive their IDs within three to seven days.
Cards are now delivered within three to seven days, and for Nairobi residents, same-day issuance is possible. The technology we have implemented has made the process highly efficient,” Kipsang explained.
The PS further stated that the government has eliminated all fees for ID applications and replacements, following a presidential directive to abolish the previous charges of Ksh300 for new applications and Ksh1,000 for replacements.
Additionally, Kipsang refuted assertions that the government is distributing national IDs to foreigners to influence the 2027 General Election, describing these claims as baseless.
He clarified that foreigners living in Kenya, including refugees and asylum seekers, receive alien cards through a distinct legal procedure that does not confer voting privileges.
“Foreigners must adhere to a specific procedure. Refugees receive alien cards, not national IDs, and without a Kenyan ID, voting is not possible,” he emphasized.
This clarification emerges amid increasing political discourse regarding the elimination of vetting requirements for new ID applicants, with the government asserting that the former system resulted in complications.
Concurrently, the government, via Huduma Kenya, has instructed Kenyans to retrieve their unclaimed identification documents, such as national IDs, smart driving licences, and birth certificates, from multiple service centers throughout the nation.
Huduma Kenya on Wednesday, April 1, disclosed that thousands of critical personal documents remain unclaimed, prompting inquiries about application and processing durations.
According to the agency, a minimum of 152,398 national IDs, 85,550 smart driving licences, and 28,550 birth certificates are currently stored in government offices nationwide.