The government is targeting prisoners, high school students and marginalized communities living along border counties for the new Identification card registration drive.
Speaking in Kajiado town during the launch of the Maisha Card registration drive, Principal Secretary for Immigration and Citizen Services, Ambassador Julius Bitok, urged Kenyans to apply for the crucial document so as to access e-citizen and other important government services.
He noted that President William Ruto had abolished the mandatory Sh300 application fee for first-time applicants, and those without ID cards must take advantage of the waiver to acquire the vital document.
Bitok revealed that vetting has been abolished in 22 border counties, and Kenyans can now apply for the Maisha card in any National Registration Bureau office or Huduma Centre near them without being forced to travel to their county of birth.
He reiterated that vetting had for many years discouraged eligible Kenyans from acquiring IDs, and barriers have been removed to ensure there is no discrimination and to make the process faster and more inclusive.
“From now on, every Kenyan will be given an ID card where they are. No matter which county you come from. If you were born in Western and you apply for an ID here in Kajiado, you will be given it,” he said.
The PS said they were targeting 100,000 new applicants in Kajiado County, and mobile registration had been launched to ensure those in remote and hard-to-reach areas would be reached.
He noted that over 10,000 ID cards were lying uncollected at the Kajiado Huduma centre and called on residents to pick up the documents to enable them to access government services.
“We are targeting 100,000 new applicants in Kajiado County. Even as we urge residents to apply for the ID cards, there are over 10,000 cards lying uncollected, and I want to urge those who had applied for them to come and pick them,” he said.
The PS further added that the launch of the ID card registration in Prisons countrywide will boost access to medical care, as prisoners will now be able to register for the Social Health Authority (SHA).
The registration of prisoners is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Health and will target first-time ID applicants and those seeking replacements within correctional facilities across the country.
Additionally, high school students turning 18 years old will also receive their identity cards before leaving school following the launch of school registration for learners in 2024.
So far, 800,000 students have received Maisha cards since the school registration drive was launched last year.
Kajiado County residents welcomed the new ID card registration drive, with the youth lauding the president for abolishing the application fees.
They said most of them did not have ID cards as they could not afford to pay the mandatory application fees.
William Leiyan called on all youth to apply for the ID cards, as they were now being issued free of charge for first-time applicants.
Leiyan said the ID cards will enable them to access crucial government services and even apply for financial services and the youth and women enterprise fund, which will enable them to start businesses.
Ali Hassan, a resident of Namanga town, said that the abolishment of vetting will ensure equality and put an end to discrimination, especially among marginalized communities living along the border.
By Rop Janet
