The allocation for identification services has attracted attention as the government steps up efforts to ensure eligible Kenyans obtain IDs before voter registration begins.
The increased spending comes at a time when the government is targeting millions of new and replacement identity cards. Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang previously indicated that the State planned to print six million IDs, comprising three million new cards and three million renewals.
The printing exercise was estimated to cost Sh4.2 billion, with each card costing approximately Sh700.
The government is also facing pressure to address delays in issuing identification documents, particularly among young people seeking their first national IDs.
Nearly 400,000 of these cards have reportedly remained uncollected for more than 10 years.
Kipsang told MPs that the government was working with chiefs and assistant chiefs to trace applicants and ensure the documents reach their owners.
The State Department is also preparing to introduce SMS notifications through the e-Citizen platform to inform applicants when their IDs are ready for collection.
The government has further removed charges previously imposed on new and replacement identity cards. Applicants had been paying Sh300 for new IDs and Sh1,000 for replacements.
With the 2027 General Election approaching, the government faces the challenge of ensuring that eligible citizens are not excluded from the electoral process because of difficulties accessing identification documents.
Sources: https://www.facebook.com/share/18rSsKNVzW/
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