In a region long plagued by service delivery delays and missed opportunities, a quiet but impactful shift is taking place, ushered in not with grand fanfare but through technology that now delivers national identity cards within just seven days.
While conducting a spot check of the Mobile ID Registration exercise in Matuga Sub-County, Kwale, as part of the Jukwaa la Usalama Nationwide Tour, Coast Region Chapter, Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen hailed the introduction of live capture biometric systems as a game-changer
“This has drastically improved efficiency, reduced unnecessary rejection rates and restored hope, particularly among the youth.”
He said, adding that “We are witnessing a transformation. Technology is not only improving efficiency, it’s restoring dignity and opportunity, especially for our youth.”
Under the new system, biometric data, such as fingerprints and photographs, is captured digitally at the registration point and transmitted instantly to Nairobi’s central processing centre.
There, the data is verified and processed, allowing applicants to receive their national ID faster.
Over 300 live capture units have already been deployed across the country, with plans to expand to all sub-counties by June 2025.
Beyond administrative gains, the accelerated issuance of Identity Cards is being positioned as a critical tool in crime prevention and economic empowerment.
Murkomen emphasised that access to legal identification documents enables youth to enrol in higher education, join vocational training institutions, apply for jobs and access government services, ultimately reducing their vulnerability to crime, drug abuse, and radicalisation.
“The security of a country improves when young people have opportunities. An Identity Card is not just a document; it is a gateway to the future,” said the Cabinet Secretary.
He reiterated, “everyone has a right to an ID. First-time ID registration is now free. The new third-generation IDs include a digital chip for enhanced security. With these cards, your information can be instantly verified. They are secure and tamper-proof.”
During a spot check at the Kilifi County Huduma Centre, queues had grown longer as more youth sought to take advantage of the faster turnaround.
“The process now takes about 10 minutes per person,” said Kilifi County, Huduma Centre registrar, Christine Barongo.
She outlined the streamlined steps: “Once a youth turns 18, they present an introductory letter from the Chief along with a birth certificate or other age-verifying document, and one parent’s ID or a death certificate or a Chief’s letter if the parent is deceased. Biometric data is then captured swiftly.”
Barongo added that the expedited issuance has significantly eased the process for young people to apply for jobs, Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) loans, and college placements.