After the Ksh. 300 application fee was recently eliminated, the government formally started a mobile ID registration campaign aimed at one million young people.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen announced the statewide campaign in Nakuru on Wednesday. Its goal is to adopt a totally digital system and remove bureaucratic obstacles in order to expedite the identification process.
In order to guarantee accessibility, Murkomen said the program would decentralize ID registration using mobile units that would travel to sub-counties and even local levels. In an effort to promote inclusivity in the registration procedure, the government has also eliminated the vetting committees that formerly required border communities to undergo drawn-out examination.
“From here, we’ll travel to sub-counties and even other places to make sure Kenyans have the least amount of trouble receiving this service. In contrast to the past, when applicants had to wait up to a year, we will also make sure that IDs are granted within 10 days,” CS Murkomen stated.
A completely digital ID registration system is also being implemented by the government. All sub-counties will get live enrollment kits to enable processing and registration in real time.
In order to remove ambiguity and lengthy wait times, a post-issuance ID tracking system will also be implemented, enabling applicants to trace the status of their applications using online platforms and SMS alerts.
A National Digital Identity Management System, which would provide digital wallets and virtual IDs, is also being planned. These developments will facilitate more seamless interactions between citizens and financial institutions by enabling them to safely store and retrieve their identification documents on cellphones.
The government has eliminated the Ksh. 300 ID application fee as well as the Ksh. 500 birth certificate verification fee that was previously necessary prior to submitting an ID or passport application. CS Murkomen underlined that the government is in charge of authenticating personal documents and that this service has to be provided without charge.
The government intends to extend ID registration services to the diaspora in recognition of the need to assist Kenyans residing outside. ID enrollment services will soon be more easily accessible to Kenyans living abroad thanks to collaborations with the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.
