Rigathi Gachagua, leader of the DCP Party, has expressed worries about delays and suspected irregularities in the distribution of national identity cards, calling on Kenyans to retrieve their documents as the nation approaches the 2027 general election.
During an interview with Kameme FM on Monday, April 20, 2026, Gachagua highlighted that numerous applicants are facing postponements in obtaining their identity cards, characterizing the circumstances as “unacceptable” and requiring immediate resolution.
He reported that in certain locations, such as Limuru, thousands of identification cards remain unclaimed, with approximately 2,000 documents still pending distribution. Gachagua also asserted that some people are being requested to pay as much as KSh300 to collect their IDs, even though the procedure should be complimentary. He advised Kenyans against making any payments and encouraged them to notify the appropriate authorities of such incidents.
Additionally, Gachagua stated that certain chiefs, mainly in sections of the Central region, are said to have been directed to reduce their involvement in the ID issuance process, which he indicated might be causing operational inefficiencies.
Concurrently, he compared this situation with what he characterized as intensified activities in other areas, alleging that local officials are personally delivering identification cards to residences.
The former Deputy President also asserted that the government is providing identification papers to foreign nationals from neighboring nations, including Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and Somalia, implying that this action is politically driven. These assertions, however, lack independent verification.
He underscored the significance of national identification documents, emphasizing their necessity for accessing services and participating in electoral activities, and prompted those who haven’t collected theirs to do so without delay.
The comments emerge amidst persistent national discussions about identification procedures, service provision, and election readiness for the upcoming general election.
The article regarding Gachagua’s concerns about ID issuance delays and irregularities was initially published on Radio47.