The agency has outlined a special procedure that allows vulnerable individuals, including those abandoned by their parents, to apply for the essential documents and gain official recognition.
The clarification followed an inquiry from a concerned Kenyan seeking assistance for a woman whose parents allegedly abandoned her while she was young.
Having survived on the streets for years, the woman was reportedly seeking a national ID but faced challenges because she could not provide the documents normally required during registration.
Responding to the inquiry, Huduma Kenya advised that she should first visit the office of the area chief to obtain an official introduction letter.
The letter would then enable her to proceed to the National Registration Bureau (NRB) office within the same administrative area to apply for her identification card.
"Kindly ask her to visit the Chief's office for a letter, then apply at the NRB office within the same compound," the agency explained.
The guidelines provide an alternative route for street-connected individuals who may not have access to their parents' identification cards, birth certificates or death certificates.
Under the ordinary registration procedure, first-time applicants are generally required to present a birth certificate alongside a photocopy of a parent's national ID.
Applicants whose parents are deceased may also be required to provide death certificates, while school leaving certificates can help in cases where birth certificates are unavailable.
The clarification comes amid growing concerns over homelessness and the number of families living on the streets across the country.
A 2025 report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) estimated that 18,049 families were living on the streets in different parts of Kenya.
Nairobi recorded the highest number, with 4,690 individuals, followed by Nakuru with 1,546, Mombasa with 1,428 and Kiambu with 1,370.
Obtaining a national ID is particularly important for vulnerable populations because the document provides access to various government services and opportunities that require official identification.
https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/129305-huduma-kenya-explains-how-street-people-can-obtain-national-ids
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