Over 400,000 uncollected IDs raise concern as Senate launches probe into delays

More than 400,000 national identity cards remain uncollected in registration offices across the country, sparking concern from both the government and lawmakers over the impact on voter registration ahead of the next General Election.

Immigration Principal Secretary Dr Belio Kipsang has urged citizens who have applied for IDs to pick them up immediately, warning that failure to do so could lock them out of the electoral process.

“We are calling upon all applicants to collect their IDs as soon as possible so they can also register as voters,” said Kipsang during a Mazingira Day tree-planting event in Kapseret.

He revealed that chiefs and assistant chiefs will work closely with registration officers to ensure the IDs reach their rightful owners, particularly in remote and hard-to-reach areas.

Dr Kipsang also raised concern over the declining number of new applications in arid and semi-arid regions, despite the government’s move to scrap the controversial vetting committees that had previously delayed issuance in border areas.

He further urged elderly citizens to take advantage of the President’s directive allowing free ID applications and collections.

“We have made it as easy as possible. We urge every eligible citizen to acquire their ID and register as a voter,” he added.

Meanwhile, Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu has petitioned the Senate Committee on National Security, Defense and Foreign Relations to investigate the persistent delays in ID processing and distribution that have frustrated many Kenyans.

The Senator wants the committee, chaired by Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo, to determine the causes of the backlog, quantify the number of uncollected IDs, and propose urgent solutions to fast-track the process.

The Senate also seeks clarity on whether the Interior Ministry has alternative strategies to simplify ID collection, especially for citizens in rural and marginalized areas.

Lawmakers further want assurances that the ongoing voter registration exercise will not be affected by the delays, and that there is effective coordination between the Interior Ministry and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to prevent voter disenfranchisement.

Senator Nyutu emphazised the need for clear timelines to resolve the delays, saying Kenyans deserve faster and more efficient access to essential identification services.