Huduma Kenya has attributed delays in issuing identity cards to ongoing technical challenges affecting its system, amid public complaints about the prolonged wait for the critical document.
The clarification comes amid mounting frustration from members of the public who say their ID replacement requests have remained pending for extended periods, with others reporting delays dating back to 2023.
The agency acknowledged that it is currently experiencing system challenges that have affected its ability to provide real-time updates on application status, resulting in delays in issuing the document.
“We are currently experiencing challenges with the system, thus unable to check on the status,” Huduma Kenya clarified.
The response comes after status was still showing as ‘in the system’ despite applying for a replacement years ago.
This has left many Kenyans unable to obtain their documents, even though they may have been released earlier.
While confirming the glitches in the system, Huduma Kenya advised those who applied for the documents to instead visit its centres to confirm whether the documents had been released.
“You can also visit the station of application in the meantime for an update,” the agency added.
The agency, however, did not provide a specific timeline for when normal service and full system functionality would be restored.
The clarification comes days after it had released identity cards, birth certificates, smart driving licenses, and other documents.
Huduma Kenya revealed that its centres currently hold 29,138 birth certificates, 178,939 national IDs, and 100,131 smart driving licences awaiting collection.