The Government of Kenya has resumed the issuance of National Identity (ID) cards following a temporary halt due to legal challenges.
Principal Secretary for Immigration and Citizen Services, Julius Bitok, has confirmed that significant progress is being made in clearing the backlog of ID card applications.
In a recent statement, PS Bitok revealed that the issuance of the third-generation National ID cards, also known as Maisha Cards, was temporarily suspended after the High Court issued a conservatory order on July 25, 2024. This order had halted the production and issuance of the cards, creating a backlog of applications.
However, following a successful government appeal, the court lifted the order on August 12, 2024, allowing the National Registration Bureau (NRB) to resume its operations.
By that time, the NRB had already received 451,228 applications, including 130,302 new requests and 320,926 duplicate card applications.
In the two weeks since the court’s decision, an additional 108,697 applications were submitted to the NRB, leading to a surge in demand for ID cards. “In the past two weeks, we have made significant strides in clearing the backlog,” said Bitok. “A total of 505,197 National ID cards have been printed, with 162,856 of those being new cards and 344,341 duplicates.”
Despite these efforts, the NRB still has 1,358 applications in the processing queue. To expedite the process, the Bureau has ramped up its capacity to produce 32,000 ID cards per day, deployed additional personnel, and introduced a 24-hour service.
However, Bitok expressed concern over the large number of uncollected ID cards. As of August 26, 2024, 476,167 printed National ID cards remain unclaimed at registration offices and Huduma Centres across the country.
Nairobi County has the highest number of uncollected cards at 55,327, followed by Kiambu (37,708), Nakuru (28,581), Kisumu (18,529), and Mombasa (17,140).
The government is urging all applicants to collect their cards promptly. “The National ID card is a constitutional right and an essential document for every citizen,” Bitok emphasized.
He also encouraged those seeking updates on their ID applications to utilize the toll-free line (08000230007) or reach out via social media platforms.
The government remains committed to ensuring that all eligible citizens receive their ID cards in a timely manner and is working diligently to process all outstanding requests