NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenyan government has launched an initiative to issue national ID cards to Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates, a move expected to streamline tertiary admission processes.
The exercise was inaugurated by Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary Julius Bitok on Thursday at Ngomeni Secondary School in Kilifi County, targeting more than 900,000 students nationwide.
PS Bitok emphasized that the issuance of Maisha cards—national ID cards for eligible candidates—is intended to alleviate difficulties students face when enrolling in universities and colleges due to a lack of identification.
“We’ve seen students delayed and inconvenienced by not having IDs, which are mandatory for admissions and other processes. This initiative ensures that eligible students will have their IDs in hand when they leave high school,” Bitok stated.
The issuance, conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Education, leverages existing school records to ensure efficient ID processing.
Students will receive their IDs through a fast-tracked, seven-day biometric capture system that includes live data entry, allowing for accurate and timely issuance.
School heads will play a critical role, with the government collaborating with them to utilize student data already on file.
“By working closely with schools, we can streamline live biometric capture, avoiding delays and guaranteeing IDs reach students with maximum accuracy,” Bitok explained.
This launch follows repeated complaints regarding the challenges faced by students lacking IDs when dealing with the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) and the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).
Last month, Parliament’s Education Committee summoned Bitok, urging him to establish a long-term solution to these issues.
Beyond student IDs, Bitok also appealed to Kenyans to pick up over 400,000 uncollected ID cards currently stored at Huduma Centres and the National Registration Bureau offices across the country.
During his Kilifi visit, Bitok also inaugurated a new birth and death certificates office in Magarini Constituency.
The facility, situated in Kongoni, is expected to ease pressure on the Civil Registration Services office in Malindi and improve document accessibility for local residents.
Kilifi County, covering over 12,000 square kilometers, has only two other CRS offices, located in Kilifi Town and Kaloleni.
Kilifi North MP Owen Baya, who attended the ceremony, lauded the government’s initiative.
“We are thrilled with this step. For the first time, students will graduate with their Maisha ID, equipping them with crucial identification to embark on adulthood and access essential services without delay,” said Baya, who also serves as the deputy majority leader in the National Assembly.
The events drew senior registration officials, underscoring a significant government commitment to addressing ID accessibility and document issuance challenges across the country.
The exercise was inaugurated by Immigration and Citizen Services Principal Secretary Julius Bitok on Thursday at Ngomeni Secondary School in Kilifi County, targeting more than 900,000 students nationwide.
PS Bitok emphasized that the issuance of Maisha cards—national ID cards for eligible candidates—is intended to alleviate difficulties students face when enrolling in universities and colleges due to a lack of identification.
“We’ve seen students delayed and inconvenienced by not having IDs, which are mandatory for admissions and other processes. This initiative ensures that eligible students will have their IDs in hand when they leave high school,” Bitok stated.
The issuance, conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Education, leverages existing school records to ensure efficient ID processing.
Students will receive their IDs through a fast-tracked, seven-day biometric capture system that includes live data entry, allowing for accurate and timely issuance.
School heads will play a critical role, with the government collaborating with them to utilize student data already on file.
“By working closely with schools, we can streamline live biometric capture, avoiding delays and guaranteeing IDs reach students with maximum accuracy,” Bitok explained.
This launch follows repeated complaints regarding the challenges faced by students lacking IDs when dealing with the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) and the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB).
Last month, Parliament’s Education Committee summoned Bitok, urging him to establish a long-term solution to these issues.
Beyond student IDs, Bitok also appealed to Kenyans to pick up over 400,000 uncollected ID cards currently stored at Huduma Centres and the National Registration Bureau offices across the country.
During his Kilifi visit, Bitok also inaugurated a new birth and death certificates office in Magarini Constituency.
The facility, situated in Kongoni, is expected to ease pressure on the Civil Registration Services office in Malindi and improve document accessibility for local residents.
Kilifi County, covering over 12,000 square kilometers, has only two other CRS offices, located in Kilifi Town and Kaloleni.
Kilifi North MP Owen Baya, who attended the ceremony, lauded the government’s initiative.
“We are thrilled with this step. For the first time, students will graduate with their Maisha ID, equipping them with crucial identification to embark on adulthood and access essential services without delay,” said Baya, who also serves as the deputy majority leader in the National Assembly.
The events drew senior registration officials, underscoring a significant government commitment to addressing ID accessibility and document issuance challenges across the country.
